Illinois Suspends No-Overtime Policy For Home Care Workers
In this Wednesday, May 11, 2016 photo, home health care workers and people with disabilities protest during the Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities Awards Ceremony at the Illinois State Library in Springfield, Ill. Seth Perlman/Assocated Press
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has suspended a no-overtime policy for workers who care for disabled residents in their homes. Secretary of Human Services James Dimas says his agency will seek a policy through an administrative rules process with the Illinois Legislature's consent.
The home-care workers' union - SEIU Healthcare Illinois - planned to file a lawsuit challenging the rule. SEIU vice president Terri Harkin says barring overtime forces clients to find backup caregivers not readily available.
Dimas says the plan has saved $5 million in taxpayer's money since it began in January. He says it gives rest to about 8,000 workers who regularly work overtime.
The federal government ruled last year that the workers deserve time-and-a-half pay for work over 40 hours.