Jackson County Class Action Accuses Asante of Wage Violations Affecting 6,000 Southern Oregon Healthcare Workers

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — A Jackson County Asante Nurse, Juniper Arthurs, is named as the plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Asante Filed on Wednesday, alleging multiple wage and hour violations affecting thousands of healthcare workers across Southern Oregon.

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Southern Oregon’s Biggest Health Care Provider

The class action lawsuit was filed in Jackson County Circuit Court by Arthurs, a member of the Oregon Nurses Association, alleging that the health care provider engaged in improper payroll practices, including time rounding, unauthorized deductions, and failure to pay for all hours worked.

For example, an employee who clocks in several minutes before a shift or clocks out after a shift may not be paid for that additional time due to rounding.

The allegations include failing to pay employees for missed meal and rest breaks, failing to pay earned wage differentials, and, in some cases, modifying employee timecards.

According to Oregon Nurses Association representatives, approximately 6,000 hourly workers may have been affected since 2020, including about 5,000 current employees. Asante employs over 6,000 workers in Southern Oregon and Northern California.

The lawsuit alleges roughly $500,000 is due in respect of unpaid wages, with additional penalties and damages that could exceed $2 million.

The plaintiff, who filed on behalf of herself and all similarly situated current and former employees of Asante healthcare facilities in Southern Oregon, seeks to recover unpaid wages and statutory penalties, as well as other damages. She also asked for changes to payroll practices.