DOL Recovers More than $1.7 Million for SSM Health Care Workers

  • Dec 10, 2009

SSM Health Care, a medical corporation comprised of seven health care centers and hospitals in the St. Louis area, has paid more than $1.7 million in back wages following a Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) investigation by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.

Wage and Hour Division investigators found that the medical corporation violated the FLSA's overtime provisions by failing to pay its nursing staff time and one-half their regular rates for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. The employees were not paid when they were required to work during some meal periods. The company's timekeeping system automatically deducted time for meal periods whether the employees were fully relieved of their duties or not. The division found $1,738,133 in back wages due 4,007 employees.

"The welfare of our workforce depends on ensuring that workers receive all the wages they have earned, and the Labor Department is committed to that end," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

The Wage and Hour Division's St. Louis District Office conducted the investigation, which covered the following SSM Health Care locations: St. Joseph Hospital West, St. Mary's Health Center, Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, and SSM Rehab Executive Offices, all in St. Louis; St. Joseph Health Center in St. Charles, Mo.; DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, Mo.; and (now closed) St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, Mo.

FLSA requires that covered employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and receive overtime at one and one-half times their regular rates of pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records. The FLSA also requires that an employee must be completely relieved from duty for the purpose of eating regular meals. The employee is not relieved if he/she is required to perform any duties, whether active or inactive, while eating and therefore should be compensated for time spent working.

For more information, go to www.dol.gov/whd.

Product Showcase

  • SECUPRO MARTEGO

    FOR HIGHEST DEMANDS. A cutting tool in which function and design go hand in hand. Meet the SECUPRO MARTEGO, our prize-winning squeeze-grip safety knife with fully automatic retractable blade for safety. • Ergonomically friendly trigger mechanism to engage the blade • Durable body made of aluminum • Safer alternative to fixed blade utility knives for general cutting tasks • 9 mm Cutting depth • Easy, tool free blade change Dimensions: L 6.10" L x 0.71" W x 1.91" H Weight: 3.70 oz Cutting Depth: 9 mm Read More

  • Glove Guard® Clip

    Safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to proper glove usage. The Glove Guard® clip enhances safety by encouraging employees to keep their gloves with them at all times. This reduces the risk of accidents and injuries on the job. By ensuring everyone has their gloves readily available, we help promote a culture of safety and efficiency. The Glove Guard® clip is designed to withstand the toughest work environments. Constructed from robust materials made in the USA, it can endure extreme conditions, including harsh weather, and rigorous activities. Read More

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. Read More

Featured

Most   Popular

Artificial Intelligence