Long Island Home Healthcare Wage Theft Total Reaches $11.6 Million
State and federal labor investigations reveal that Long Island home healthcare companies withheld more than $11.6 million in wages from nearly 8,000 employees between 2017 and 2025, according to an analysis of regulatory records reported by Newsday. The home healthcare sector accounted for nearly 40% of the $3.9 million in wages deemed stolen by Nassau- and Suffolk-based employers last year, outpacing both the restaurant and construction industries on Long Island.
Patrick Atta and Serene Home Nursing Agency Settlement Details
Patrick Atta, a 41-year-old Ghanaian native, worked approximately 91 hours a week caring for a Parkinson’s patient without receiving overtime compensation from the Patchogue-based Serene Home Nursing Agency. Atta earned roughly $1,600 each week while performing tasks like tending to his client during middle-of-the-night hallucinations and skipping breakfast. Federal labor investigators and the company recently reached a $6.4 million settlement covering wage theft claims for nearly 500 aides. Atta is expected to receive $35,000 in back pay alongside nearly $38,000 in damages.
I thought maybe if I complained a lot they were going to fire me,
Atta told Newsday. I was afraid back then.
Janice Fine, director of the Workplace Justice Lab at Rutgers University, described the sector as the Wild West
due to workforce isolation, low wages, and a high proportion of immigrant workers and women. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows home care aides in New York earned an average of $39,620 in 2025.
Valucare Inc. and Pamper Our Parents Back Pay Disputes
Hempstead-based Valucare Inc. accounts for the highest amount of owed back wages among Long Island agencies, owing more than $4 million to approximately 2,700 workers, according to Newsday’s findings. Valucare faced 13 investigations without incurring penalties, leaving back pay as the sole current obligation.
In a separate case, Katrina Kalish worked 60-hour weeks for Levittown-based Pamper Our Parents in 2016 while earning between $720 and $900 before taxes. The state Department of Labor found that Pamper Our Parents owed Kalish and 13 other workers over $71,000 in back wages after classifying them as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime.
Trade Groups Blame Regulatory Frameworks for Wage Discrepancies
Industry trade groups attribute wage discrepancies to complicated regulatory frameworks and inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates rather than deliberate exploitation. Kevin Thomas, head of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers, stated that incorrectly applying overtime rules is different than an intentional effort to shortchange workers.
State enforcement mechanisms have expanded, allowing the New York Department of Labor to place liens on property, seize financial assets, and issue stop-work orders following a judgment. State records show the agency issued 788 liens in 2025 and carried out 135 asset seizures. State Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-Yonkers) advocated for stricter penalties, stating that failure to pay wages should be treated as a serious crime.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care Wage Theft
How can home health aides report wage theft or file a claim in New York?
Workers can file claims or report violations by contacting the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division at 866-487-9243. Alternatively, individuals can reach out to the New York State Department of Labor’s Wage Theft Task Force Hotline at 833-910-4378 or 888-525-2267.
What are the standard working hours and compensation rules for live-in home health aides in New York?
Live-in aides in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island earn a standard rate of $19.65 an hour plus 1.5 times that rate for hours exceeding 40 per week.
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