Care Options for Kids: New Unpaid Overtime Wages Lawsuit Filed

The experienced unpaid overtime lawyers at Coffman Employment Lawyers have recently filed a new unpaid overtime lawsuit against Care Options for Kids. This new lawsuit seeks to recover unpaid overtime wages for all nursing/assistant employees of Care Options for Kids who worked during the last 3 years.

Care Options for Kids is a registered trade name for Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services, Inc. Under the Care Options for Kids name, this company provides home medical and therapeutic care to clients across the country.

What Is This New Unpaid Wages Lawsuit Against Care Options for Kids About?

The new lawsuit alleges that Care Options for Kids pays its nursing/nursing assistant employees on a per-visit basis for home care visits and on a flat rate basis for other types of work, such as meetings. These employees include Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs), Home Health Aides (HHAs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs), Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs), and State Tested Nursing Assistants (STNAs).

In addition to being paid on this hybrid basis, Care Options for Kids nursing/nursing assistant employees regularly work over 40 hours in a work week between visits, traveling to visits, charting, making calls, and other administrative tasks. The lawsuit alleges that Care Options for Kids unlawfully failed to compensate its employees for these non-visit tasks in violation of federal and state law, and that this resulted in unpaid overtime wages when those employees worked more than 40 hours in a work week.

If I Chose to Join This Lawsuit, What Could I Potentially Receive?

If we can show that you were not properly paid for all the overtime hours you worked for one or more reason(s),the law states that you could receive (1) unpaid overtime for up to the last three years of work; and (2) liquidated damages in an amount equal to the unpaid overtime (aka the potential for double [2x or200%] damages). If the lawsuit is successful, the law also requires Care Options for Kids to pay the firm’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

Can Care Options for Kids Retaliate Against Me for Joining the Lawsuit?

No. The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits employers from retaliating against its employees for participating in wage and hour lawsuits like this one. If Care Options for Kids does retaliate against you, it could be required to pay damages, including backpay, liquidated damages, and/or reinstatement. The U.S. Department of Labor website contains more information about how to protect yourself from retaliation: click here. If you think you have experienced or are concerned about retaliation, please contact our firm for additional help.