Nurses and other patient care workers at three Washington hospitals have won a $4.4 million settlement in a class and collective action lawsuit over unpaid meal breaks and on-call time. The settlement, which was approved by the Eastern Washington District U.S. Court, involves employees at Trios Health and Trios Physicians in Kennewick, Lourdes Health in Pasco, and Columbia Capital Medical Center in Olympia. Washington state law mandates paid rest breaks of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked, but the lawsuit claimed that workers were often unable to take these breaks and were required to remain on call.

The settlement will be distributed to approximately 1,966 hourly workers, with average payments around $1,732, and some workers receiving up to $7,165. Over $1.2 million of the settlement will cover attorney fees and costs. The hospitals, now under new ownership, denied any wrongdoing.

Know Your Rights and Protect Your Wages If you've been denied proper breaks or compensation at work, our experienced employment law attorneys in Indianapolis can help. Contact us today for a free consultation and ensure you're getting the pay and rest you deserve.