Professional Service Agreement

Home Care Company to Pay over $217,000 for Failure to Pay Travel Time and Overtime

September 21, 2018

A privately-held home care company in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts has paid $217,335 to 175 employees in a settlement reached over the employer’s failure to pay non-exempt employees travel time and overtime. According to the settlement, between August 2014 and August 2017, Petra Health Care LLC failed to pay employees for time spent traveling between client visits and for overtime.

Time spent traveling between clients is considered compensable time. However, if the employee stops and performs personal business, goes home, or has an extended period of time between shifts, that time is not compensable.

Under federal law, non-exempt employees must be paid time and a half their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Certain states have more stringent requirements regarding when and at what rate overtime must be paid.

SESCO has a long history of ensuring that employers are compliant with federal and state wage and hour requirements. If employers have any questions or concerns about their pay practices, we recommend they contact us to ensure compliance. For assistance, please contact us at 423-764-4127 or by email at sesco@sescomgt.com.