Bayada Nurses, Inc. v. Commonwealth, Department of Labor & Industry

**What Happened** Bayada Nurses, a home healthcare staffing agency, challenged a Pennsylvania regulation about minimum wage requirements. The company argued it should be exempt from paying minimum wage to some of its workers under a "domestic services" exception that applies to household employees like nannies and housekeepers. Bayada claimed that since their nurses worked in people's homes, they should qualify for this exemption, which would allow them to pay less than minimum wage. **What the Court Decided** The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against Bayada Nurses. The court upheld a state regulation that says staffing agencies and third-party employers cannot use the domestic services exemption. Even though the nurses work in homes, they are employed by the agency, not directly by the homeowners, so the exemption doesn't apply. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision protects home healthcare workers' right to minimum wage. Without this ruling, staffing agencies could potentially pay healthcare aides, nurses, and other home-based workers below minimum wage by claiming they're "domestic workers." The decision ensures that workers employed by agencies maintain their full wage protections, even when they provide services in private homes.