Lawsuit: US Department of Labor Sue Texas CPS

“The U.S. Department of Labor is suing the state’s Child Protective Services for failing to pay workers overtime.

The U.S. Department of Labor began investigating CPS in June of 2008. The lawsuit claims that 800 current and former child protective service investigators and case workers were denied overtime pay. The suit is seeking more than $1 million in back pay plus interest.

The Labor Department didn’t specify what prompted its investigation. But it said it found workers were working “off the clock” under direction from supervisors.”

“Texas Child Protective Services released a statement strongly denying the allegations. The statement said the agency has policies and controls in place to make sure workers are paid according to law. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act states that nonexempt employees must receive overtime pay (or time and a half) for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek.”

“Child Protective Services has had a history of large case loads, back logs and high turnover employee rates.”

“The Labor Department filed a similar lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2000. The state paid $2 million to parole officers to settle that case.”

State Child Protective Services Faces Lawsuit
[KUT.org 6/10/11 by Erika Aguilar]

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