A Pittsburgh home health care agency is required to pay more than $1.6 million in back wages and damages to hundreds of employees — as part of a settlement — after it misclassified them and failed to pay overtime.
The U.S. Department of Labor filed a complaint against Christian Home Healthcare, owned by India Christian, in September 2018. The business, based on the North Side, began operating in 2003, according to its website.
An investigation showed that the agency misclassified 546 home health aides as independent contractors and then failed to pay them overtime. Of the money 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.
