ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The U.S. Department of Labor says a Rockford-based nursing agency cheated 41 contracted employees out of $70,488 in wages.
According to a complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, NurseRight Staffing Agency, at 129 Phelps Avenue, misclassified its employees, which include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants, as independent contractors, cheating them out of overtime pay of time and a half of their hourly rate.
The suit also alleges that the company failed to maintain accurate time sheets, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The suit names the company’s manager, Kwame Adjekum, who is responsible for daily operations, including setting schedules and pay rates.
The suit seeks a total of $140,976 in damages and lost wages.
“This case demonstrates the U.S. Department of Labor’s ongoing commitment to ensuring workers receive their rightfully earned pay by using all legal tools available,” said Regional Solicitor Christine Heri in Chicago.