Indianapolis home care business owners Hahn March and Nancy Stanley are facing allegations of unfair wage practices. The U.S. Department of Labor filed a complaint on October 21, accusing them of withholding $86,427 in overtime pay from employees at March’s companies, Signal Health Group Inc. and SHG Employee Leasing Company.
Investigators found that Hahn March and Nancy Stanley used a questionable pay system to lower hourly wages. The Department of Labor is seeking $172,854 in unpaid wages and liquidated damages for 43 affected current and former employees. If proven, their actions not only deprived workers of fair pay but also violated federal wage laws. “When employers attempt to devise workarounds to avoid paying workers the wages they have rightfully earned, the department will seek to hold them accountable in court,” said Regional Solicitor of Labor Christine Heri in Chicago, in the statement released by the
Department of Labor.
This is not the first time Hahn March has faced wage violation claims. 2018 she was accused of failing to pay overtime at her former business, Aging and Disabled Home Healthcare. The Department of Labor’s complaint alleges that March and Stanley violated several federal regulations, including failing to calculate overtime correctly for joint employers, not paying for travel time between clients, improperly exempting some workers from overtime, and not keeping accurate time records.
Signal Health Group provides medical services and is complemented by SHG Employee Leasing Company, which offers auxiliary support services such as housekeeping and assistance with everyday activities to clients. The Department of Labor’s actions resonate with its laser focus on upholding workers’ rights and setting a precedent for fair treatment within the healthcare industry. “Employees who work in home healthcare – one of our nation’s lowest-paying professions – provide necessary daily and hospice care that allows individuals to remain in their homes and aids them in navigating their basic needs, providing dignity and comfort to clients and their families,” emphasized Wage and Hour Division District Director Aaron Loomis, according to
the Department of Labor’s announcement
.
In the preceding fiscal year, the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor reclaimed nearly $31.8 million in back wages for more than 24,000 healthcare workers. Protecting these essential yet often under-compensated workers remains paramount for authorities. The Department of Labor’s resources for healthcare workers offer more in-depth information on appropriate wage and hour standards, aiming to enlighten employers and employees on their rights and duties within the workforce.
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