Centene Hit With Nurse’s Meal Break, Unpaid Overtime Allegations

Centene Corp. requires employees performing direct patient care to remain on duty during their unpaid meal breaks, according to a registered nurse’s new wage-and-hour complaint.

The St. Louis-based healthcare company requires these workers to “remain responsible for patient care throughout their shift,” including during lunch breaks, but still deducted 30 minutes of pay per shift for the meal periods, according to the complaint filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Lauren Cupp worked for Centene, doing business as Centurion Health, at an Indiana correctional facility for approximately a year, first as an hourly registered nurse ...