SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration has suspended a no-overtime policy for workers who care for disabled residents in their homes.
Secretary of Human Services James Dimas says his agency will seek a policy through an administrative rules process with the Illinois Legislature's consent.
The decision was publicized just hours before the home-care workers' union — SEIU Healthcare Illinois — planned to file a class-action lawsuit challenging the rule's legality.
Dimas says the plan has saved $5 million in taxpayer's money since it began in January. He says it gives rest to about 8,000 workers who regularly work overtime. The federal government ruled earlier this year that the workers deserve time-and-a-half pay for work over 40 hours.
SEIU says the plan is a major victory because the policy hurt clients.