The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries fined Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Emanuel Medical Center nearly $277,000 for not ensuring staff received proper breaks, according to The Oregonian.
The state launched an investigation into LEMC's break policies after multiple employee complaints, many of them from surgical technicians who claimed they were not able to go to the restroom for more than four hours.
The investigation revealed that LEMC had more than 4,400 meal and rest period violations in 2015 and 2016. Specifically, between Nov. 1, 2015, and Jan. 31, 2016, the hospital had more than 1,300 violations in the surgery department and 2,600 in the housekeeping department. In addition, between July 24 and Aug. 6, 2016, more than 450 violations occurred in the family birthing center, according to the report.
The hospital originally requested a lawsuit to fight the allegations, but withdrew its request in October.
Portland-based Legacy Health, the parent company of LEMC, disagreed with the bureau's findings but did not want to spend money to contest the fine, according to statement issued to The Oregonian.
"Legacy understood there was an issue and has truly focused on making sure our employees get their breaks, which is better for our employees and results in better patient care. Legacy has worked hard to ensure everyone is taking the breaks they are entitled to and have seen significant improvement in staff's compliance with taking mandatory breaks," the statement added.
Oregon law mandates that employees who work six hours or more get a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Employees who work an eight-hour shift must also receive two paid 10-minute breaks, and employees who work for more than 10 hours must receive three paid 10-minute breaks, according to the report.