A Deerfield Beach, Florida-based healthcare benefits services firm paid $106,248 in back wages and liquidated damages to 68 workers after misclassifying them as independent contractors, the US Department of Labor announced Jan. 26.

An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found Senior Healthcare Advisors LLC, which operates Medicare benefits call centers in Deerfield Beach and Pembroke Pines, Florida, paid workers straight-time rates for all hours worked, failed to pay overtime, did not include earned commissions into some employees’ regular pay rates, and paid overtime at lower rates than required by Fair Labor Standards Act.

The company also failed to inform employees of their rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

“Misclassifying workers as independent contractors denies them wage protections and other important benefits, making makes it harder for them to provide for themselves and their families,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Daniel Cronin.