NEWS RELEASE: Legacy Emanuel to pay $277K in civil penalties for meal and rest period violations

[Burr, Charlie]

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For Immediate Release
November 2, 2017
CONTACT:           Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788

Legacy Emanuel to pay $277K in civil penalties for meal and rest period violations
Wage and hour investigation uncovers more than 4,439 violations

PORTLAND, OR-Legacy Emanuel Hospital will pay $276,680 in civil penalties for 4,439 meal and rest period violations, the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) announced today. The Final Order on Default issued by the agency represents the largest assessment of civil penalties in the agency's history.

Wage and hour compliance specialists found 1,343 meal period violations in Legacy Emanuel Hospital's surgical department and 2,636 meal period violations in its housekeeping department occurring between November 1, 2015 and January 31, 2016. In addition, the Wage and Hour Division found 449 meal period violations in the hospital's Family Birthing Center occurring between July 24, 2016 and August 6, 2016. BOLI also assessed maximum civil penalties for 11 willful violations of the rest period requirements of the law.


Legacy Emanuel had previously requested a contested case hearing, but withdrew the request in October. The Final Order on Default subsequently issued by the agency is available upon request.

"BOLI is committed to ensuring that all workers receive the meal and rest breaks they're entitled to under law," said Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. "These breaks are important - not just for the individual workers, but also the patients they serve."

Under Oregon law, employers must provide one 30-minute unpaid meal break to anyone working a shift of six hours or more. Businesses must also provide two paid 10-minute rest breaks in an eight-hour shift and three such breaks in any shift longer than 10 hours.

BOLI initiated an investigation after receiving multiple employee complaints against the hospital. The agency also has open wage and hour investigations into whether other violations occurred at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, Legacy Good Samaritan and Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. BOLI's Administrative Prosecution Unit is currently evaluating another meal and rest period case involving employees at Legacy Silverton.
Employees with wage and hour claims or complaints may contact the Wage and Hour Division at (971) 673-0844 or via email at whdemail at boli.state.or.us<mailto:whdemail at boli.state.or.us>. Employers seeking compliance guidance may contact the agency's Technical Assistance for Employers hotline at (971) 673-0824. For more information about BOLI's effort to support employers and protect workers, please visit the agency's website at oregon.gov/BOLI/Pages.

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Charlie Burr
Communications Director
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
800 NE Oregon, Ste. 1050
Portland, OR 97232
Tel: 971-673-0788

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