Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2020) - The
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice delivered on its
stated intention to criminally prosecute collusion in labor and
employment markets when it announced on December 10, 2020
its first criminal wage-fixing prosecution,
charging the former owner of a Texas home healthcare staffing
agency with violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act by participating
in a conspiracy to suppress rates for physical therapists and
physical therapy assistants.
Since October 2016, when it first released guidance on
“no-poach” and wage-fixing agreements, observers have
waited for DOJ to bring criminal charges for collusion in the
labor and employment markets. This is the first such action.
