New Mexico Home Health Care — Caregivers Denied Overtime

New Mexico Home Health Care — Caregivers Denied Overtime

Lessons of Life, LLC | Home Health Caregivers | Las Cruces, New Mexico

Buenker Law filed a federal lawsuit against Lessons of Life, LLC and its owners on behalf of home health caregivers in the Las Cruces, New Mexico area who were misclassified as independent contractors and denied overtime pay. The caregivers provided in-home health services to clients of the company, regularly working more than 40 hours per week. Despite the ongoing, controlled, and directed nature of their work — which courts apply to determine employee status — they were classified as independent contractors and paid hourly rates with no overtime premium for hours beyond 40.

The case was filed as both a federal collective action under the FLSA and a class action under the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act — a state law that provides its own overtime protections and remedies for New Mexico workers. Courts have found that workers who are misclassified as independent contractors but who work exclusively for one employer, follow that employer’s schedules and instructions, and use that employer’s client relationships are, in fact, employees entitled to FLSA protections. The estimated class in this case exceeds 40 to 50 workers.

The lawsuit names both the company and its individual owners as defendants. It is pending in federal court in New Mexico. Both federal and state overtime claims are alleged, each carrying its own legal standards and remedies.