Christian Home Healthcare, a Pittsburgh home healthcare agency, is required to pay more than $1.6 million in back wages and damages. The agency, named for its owner, India Christian, misclassified and failed to pay overtime to hundreds of employees, according to a complaint filed in September 2018 by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The investigation showed that the agency misclassified 546 home health aides as independent contractors. Moreover, it didn’t pay any of the misclassified employees overtime. Of the $1.6 million to be paid, $812,675 represents back wages, and there is an equal amount in damages.
Late last month, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Dodge approved a consent settlement between the parties. In addition, Christian Home Healthcare must pay $20,000 in civil penalties.
