A Connecticut-based home healthcare logistics company, involved in a federal lawsuit over wage practices, has reached an agreement with a former employee to conditionally certify a collective in their federal wage lawsuit, dismissing most claims but keeping the allegation of unpaid off-the-clock work.
CareCentrix Inc. reached an agreement with the former employee this September to move forward with a collective action, focusing on claims that the Hartford-based company failed to pay overtime for tasks completed outside of regular shifts. The terms of the stipulation were recently approved.
The original complaint included claims for unpaid overtime, breach of contract or, alternatively, unjust enrichment on behalf of a nationwide class. The former employees explained that the company wrongfully retained money that should have gone to the employees. Although some claims were dismissed with prejudice, and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) claim was narrowed to remove an allegation that CareCentrix Inc. did not account for non-discretionary bonuses when calculating the plaintiff’s regular rate of pay for overtime, according to the stipulation.
A Georgia-based employee claimed she worked for CareCentrix between November 2022 and June 2023, earning $17 per hour as a nonexempt worker. She alleged that she frequently performed unpaid tasks, such as starting up and closing down computer programs, including Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Outlook, and other software, before and after her shifts.
The judge approved the case to proceed as a collective action, covering all current and former patient advocates employed by CareCentrix within the last three years. Once a court-approved notice is issued, potential members will have 60 days to opt into the collective. CareCentrix estimated that approximately 170 individuals would be included in this group.
Your hard work deserves proper pay. If you have been in a similar position, reach out to the attorneys at Fitapelli & Schaffer for a free case evaluation. Our dedicated lawyers have the experience you need to ensure your rights and benefits are protected.