New Jersey-based corporation involved in contract dispute

Most of us do it. We wake up, grab a cup of coffee and then head out the door to work. We then work our shift and head home, with the process repeating again the next day. But what happens when going to work isn’t that simple? What if your employer makes changes to your contract without your approval, or alters something that is in your employment contract?

That is the situation that more than 600 health care workers recently faced in their places of employment. The employees worked in health care and nursing homes. Those workers included nurses, aides and support staff working for New Jersey-based HealthBridge Management.

The corporation made changes to the employees’ contracts without their permission, including changes to their pensions and forcing the employees to pay higher health insurance costs. The workers filed a case over the contract dispute with the National Labor Relations Board, which resulted in an injunction against the corporation and an order from the judge requiring the corporation to follow the previous contract.

But like many things in life, this didn’t go as smoothly as the employees planned. The corporation then filed numerous appeals that extended the litigation, but all of the appeals ended unsuccessfully for the company. The employees then made plans to return to work, but were unable to do so because the company filed for bankruptcy.

The legal maneuvers by the company didn’t sit well with the judge overseeing the case. He recently ordered the corporation to follow the previous order, to pay back-wages and benefits and also found the corporation to be in contempt of court.

Contract disputes like this one are very complicated matters. Whether a business is dealing with employment contracts or a different type of contract, allegations of contract violations can cause serious problems. To best protect yourself, it is often wise to worth with an attorney experienced in business law.

Source: Milfordmirror.com, “Judge orders back pay for workers at West River Health Care,” Dec. 23, 2013