Nurses File Lawsuit Against Asante Over Alleged Wage Practices
Oregon Nurses Association claims timekeeping and payroll violations affecting thousands of workers
MEDFORD, Ore. — A member of the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) has filed a class action lawsuit against Asante, alleging wage theft and violations of Oregon labor laws, according to an announcement from the union.
The lawsuit, filed March 18 in Jackson County Circuit Court [below], alleges that Asante engaged in multiple unlawful payroll and timekeeping practices. According to the ONA, these include manipulating employee timecards, making unauthorized wage deductions, rounding work hours, failing to pay earned differentials, and not compensating workers for missed meals and breaks.
ONA officials say the lawsuit seeks to stop the alleged practices, recover unpaid wages, and ensure accurate accounting of employee work hours.
“Nurses and healthcare workers show up every day to care for our community and we expect to be paid fairly for our work,” said Fred Katz, RN, an ONA bargaining unit chair at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center and ONA board member. “When we clock in, we trust that Asante is paying us properly. That trust has been broken.”
The union estimates that approximately 6,000 hourly workers may have been affected by the alleged practices since 2020, including nearly 5,000 current employees. Plaintiffs estimate roughly $500,000 in unpaid wages, with additional potential penalties, damages, and court costs.
Juniper Arthurs, RN, a named plaintiff in the case and an ONA bargaining unit leader, said the lawsuit is intended to bring accountability and clarity to payroll practices.
“We’re asking Asante to bring that same level of care and attention to its payroll practices to ensure workers are paid accurately,” Arthurs said. “This case will provide a full and fair review of payroll practices and address any wages owed.”
Among the allegations is the practice of “rounding” employee time entries. The ONA claims that rounding can result in workers not being paid for all hours worked. For example, the union alleges that early clock-ins or late clock-outs may be adjusted in ways that reduce paid time.
The lawsuit also alleges that timecards were modified after approval and that workers were not compensated for missed breaks in certain cases.
Wage theft, as defined by labor organizations, refers to the failure to pay employees all wages legally owed. It can include unpaid overtime, missed break compensation, or off-the-clock work.
Asante has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
The case will be reviewed in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Cover image: stock photo
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