Federal court orders Wisconsin-based medical care partnership to pay back wages, damages to 68 employees denied overtime

WAUSAU, WI - A federal court has ordered a Wisconsin-based multicounty medical care partnership to pay $162,486 in back wages and liquidated damages to 68 case managers after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the employer did not pay case managers all wages owed for off-the-clock work, including overtime.

Entered in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, the consent judgment follows an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Divisionthat found case managers employed by North Central Community Services Program and Affiliates - doing business as North Central Health Care - were working unrecorded hours.

The department's complaint alleged that between June 17, 2021, and June 16, 2023, North Central Health Care violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Actby failing to record and pay case managers for all hours worked, including overtime. Under the FLSA, employers must pay nonexempt employees no less than time and one-half their regular rate of payfor all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Employers are also required to record all compensable time workedeach day, even time worked in small increments, in order to determine an employee's regular rate of pay.

Entered on Dec. 4, 2025, the judgment requires North Central Health Care to pay $81,243 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damagesto the 68 employees. Additionally, the employer is enjoined from future FLSA violations.

Workers and employers can call the division with questions and requests for compliance assistanceat its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency's industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division.

The agency's PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential FLSA minimum wage and overtime violations, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool that workers can use if they think they may be owed back wages collected by the division. Download the agency's free timesheet app for iOS and Android devices to track hours and pay.