FIVE OAKS ONE OF THREE FACILITIES TO BE SUED BY FEDS
New Ulm’s Five Oaks Achievement Center is one of three for-profit residential group homes that is being sued by the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Labor is suing the three for $2.2-million on behalf of 68 employees whose wages the department says were improperly deducted.
According to the suit filed in federal court in Houston, the three facilities for troubled children improperly deducted eight hours of sleep time from the direct care staff each week.
The suit alleges the centers did not provide adequate sleep facilities and did not provide for five hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
The suit is seeking $1.1-million in damages and the same amount in overtime for the 68 employees.
Also included in the suit are: Whispering Hills Achievement Center in Flatonia and North Fork Educational Center in Wylie.
I was employed there so will I be considered in this law suit
This was a common practice back in the early to mid 1990’s for Washington County EMS. We worked 24hrs and were paid for 14.5 hours after sleep and mealtime was deducted. We worked 24hrs on, 24 hours off, and most of the time we ran calls during what was supposed to be a uninterrupted sleep period. If you asked or complain about it you were reminded that you were an “At Will” employee and you could be terminated at anytime. Glade to see others are getting justice that never happened here.