National Labor Relations Board v. Community Health Services, Inc.

Hospital Workers Win $105,000 After Hours Were Cut in Retaliation

Thirteen employees at Mimbres Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home had their work hours reduced after engaging in activities protected by federal labor law. The workers filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming the hospital retaliated against them for exercising their workplace rights.

The court sided with the workers and ordered the hospital to pay approximately $105,000 in back pay to compensate for their lost wages. Importantly, the court ruled that the hospital could not reduce these payments even if the workers had earned money from other jobs during the time their hours were cut. This decision differed from typical cases where employers can subtract outside earnings from what they owe fired workers.

This ruling matters for workers because it shows that employers cannot punish employees by cutting their hours when they engage in legally protected workplace activities like organizing or filing complaints. The decision also establishes that when employers illegally reduce hours (rather than firing workers outright), they must pay full compensation without considering any side income workers may have earned to make up for lost wages.