A US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found the owners of two Auburn, Washington, adult care homes did not pay 22 caregivers overtime rates for hours over 40 in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer instead paid a daily rate regardless of how many hours employees worked. Investigators also found the employer denied some employees the required federal minimum wage. The back wages recovered included $97,980 in overtime and minimum wages and $97,980 in liquidated damages. The employer also had to pay $5,831 in civil money penalties for the willful nature of the violations.
