CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a Clarksville Now investigative report shed light on recent happenings at Advanced Care Medical (ACM), many are wondering what will come next for employees affected by the shutdown.
The doors to ACM, 1469 Tiny Town Road, have been closed since Nov. 16, and, according to employees, the shutdown followed weeks without paychecks. Now, a local state representative is looking to help as state investigations get underway.
Legislator responds
State Rep. Ronnie Glynn said that upon hearing that the clinic had closed, and that employees were going without pay, he reached out to the Tennessee Department of Labor to seek help for impacted workers. Clarksville’s newest state representative has asked those directly affected to reach out to his office and file a complaint with the Labor Department.
“Our health care workers have been through enough in the past few years; they deserve our support,” Glynn told Clarksville Now. “The workers have been put in a bind as they go without pay and patients are impacted as they lose a care provider. I want to hear from you if you are affected, and I want to help.”
Workers who believe they are missing pay can file a complaint with the state Department of Labor.
Additionally, Glynn’s office said they would like to know if you have filed a complaint. Call 615-741-2043. You can also email rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov.
Department of Labor
Chris Cannon, spokesman for the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, told Clarksville Now the department has already received multiple complaints from ACM employees.
“The Labor Standards Unit has received 26 complaints against ACM from employees at three locations in Tennessee: Chattanooga, Columbia and Clarksville. Only three of the individuals who submitted complaint forms have continued the process by completing wage forms. Labor Standard Inspectors are currently reviewing those three cases,” he said.
Cannon said that once the Labor Standards Unit receives the initial wage complaint, staff works to ensure the claim’s validity and determine jurisdiction. If the claimant has a valid claim and the department has proper jurisdiction, the staff will provide a wage claim form for the claimant to complete and submit to the inspector in their area.
When the inspectors receive the completed wage claim form, they typically reach out to the claimant for clarification. Inspectors will then reach out to the employer to verify contact information, discuss the claim and alert them of the upcoming request for information, which employers must respond to within 20 days.
Seeking resolution
Cannon explained that the employer can provide documentation disproving the claim or provide proof that payment was made after the inspection began.
“Even if the inspector finds the employer to be non-compliant, the department does not have the authority to guarantee payment from the former employer. Our inspectors attempt to have the employer pay owed wages to the claimant by referring to the specific statute that requires payment to be made,” Cannon said.
He noted that if the employer still fails to properly pay their former employee, they refer the claimant to the general sessions court in the county in which they were employed.
The results of the investigations will be available for public review when they are finalized and closed.
Clarksville Now has reached out to ACM corporate leadership for comment.