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11 EMTs, paramedics sue Iowa hospital over unpaid shift differential

The current and former Waverly Health Center EMS providers are seeking damages under Iowa wage laws and the FLSA

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A Waverly Health Center ambulance.

Waverly Health Center/Facebook

BREMER COUNTY, Iowa — A group of 11 Bremer County EMTs and paramedics has filed a lawsuit against Waverly Health Center, alleging unpaid wages.

The plaintiffs, all current or former members of Waverly Health Center’s EMS, say they worked 24-hour shifts followed by 48 hours off, often with additional hours beyond their regular rotations, but were not fully compensated, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported. Waverly Health Center operates clinics in Waverly, Janesville, Nashua and Shell Rock.

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The lawsuit says that in 2022, 2023 and again in 2024, Waverly Health Center announced shift differential pay for hourly staff working nights and weekends, up to $2 to $15 more per hour, and had EMTs and paramedics acknowledge the policies by email. Despite that, the plaintiffs allege they were never actually paid those differentials.

The lawsuit, initially filed in state court and now moved to federal court, seeks unspecified damages for alleged violations of Iowa wage laws and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Waverly Health Center has not yet filed a response.

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Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.