Filipino immigrant nurses targeted with coercive “stay or pay” contracts secure settlement with former employers

July 18, 2024

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Murphy Anderson PLLC negotiated a settlement with four related health care companies to rescind “stay or pay” provisions in their employment contracts.

“Stay or pay” provisions are provisions in employees’ contracts that force them to pay their employers large sums if they leave their jobs.

Three nurses filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in May. On July 18, the NLRB approved the settlement with Premier Members LLC, Priority Healthcare Group LLC, the Gardens at West Shore, and the Gardens at Wyoming Valley.

The settlement includes the employers’ agreement not to enforce any current “stay or pay,” not to engage in any future illegal agreements, and to notify all affected nurses and institute training for managers and anyone else responsible for recruiting nurses from outside the United States.

Mark Hanna and Grace Anzalone represented the nurses.