Legacy Fined Millions For Meal And Rest Period Violations

PORTLAND, OR – Three hospitals in the Legacy system are being fined a collective $5,156,000 for missed work and rest periods. The state's Bureau of Labor Industries announced the fines on Friday.

The state says that investigators determined there had been 5,156 violations of the rules, that the violations had been willful and, as a result imposed the maximum $1,000 fine for each.

The total amounts to $5,156,000. Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts.

BOLI says that the violations occurred at Good Samaritan Hospital, Mount Hood Medical Center, and Meridian Park Hospital.

Legacy denies that they've done anything wrong, saying the the state "failed to take into account the fact that the needs of our patients, and their families sometimes cause meal breaks to be" later in the shift.

"We strongly dispute BOLI’s inappropriate characterization of Legacy’s actions as willful as well as the excessive and disproportionate penalties," Legacy spokesman Brian Terrett said. "Legacy Health provides support for all of our staff in their work, including getting the meal breaks they are entitled to under the law.

"We remain 100% committed to ensuring the continued health and safety of our workforce."

If Legacy had not asked for a hearing the fine – which the state says is the largest ever imposed by BOLI – would have been imposed on September 25.

Legacy was hit with similar fines in November which they paid.

Photo via Legacy.