Home Health Care Co. Failed To Pay Travel Time, Wages: AG

WORCESTER, MA—More than $272,000 is being paid out from a Worcester home health care company for not paying its workers travel time.

Ace Medical Services Inc. and owners, Michael Chege and Raphael Bibiu, are paying the money, including compensation for 240 current and former employees, because the company allegedly failed to pay workers travel time and keep accurate payroll records, Attorney General Maura Healey announced on Wednesday.

Investigators began to look into Ace after an employee said that employees weren't being paid in full for all of the hours they worked, particularly for the time they spent driving to and from patient visits. Many of Ace’s home health aides visited two or more patients in a given workday, and the complaint alleged these workers were only paid for time spent with patients.

“Home health care workers provide essential services to elders and people with disabilities and they should be paid for their work,” said AG Healey in a statement. “I’m pleased that hundreds of current and former employees will receive restitution through this settlement and that the company has come into compliance with state law.”

Ace routinely failed to track all the hours the employees worked, and subsequently the workers weren't paid, said investigators.

Photo via Shutterstock