D.C. Nurses Protest Alleged Wage Theft at MedStar Over Missed Pay and Timecards

Registered nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center took to the streets on January 15, 2026, to protest what they describe as systematic wage theft practices at D.C.'s largest hospital. 

About The Complaint

Hundreds of nurses, represented by National Nurses United (NNU), filed a formal complaint with the D.C. Office of the Attorney General alleging multiple violations of wage and hour laws.

The nurses' complaint outlines three primary concerns: 

• Altered timecards showing meal breaks that nurses never took
• Delayed or missing paychecks
• Pressure to work off the clock without compensation

Emergency department nurse Ashley Marshall described discovering unauthorized deductions from her paycheck. "Wages were deducted from my paycheck without my knowledge, and I'm now forced to review every pay stub to ensure nothing else has been altered," Marshall stated, according to reports from union statements and local news reports.

Explained how the timecard alterations occurred: "They were clocking out and attesting that they did not take a lunch break. It's very busy in the ED and many times nurses are not able to take a lunch break. And so when they go to clock out, they press that button." According to Cary, management would later modify these records to indicate breaks had been taken, effectively removing 30 minutes of pay from affected nurses.

The Scale of Violations

The scale of the alleged violations is significant, according to union estimates:

• Union officials estimate approximately 80 emergency department nurses experienced meal break issues.
• While around 50 operating room nurses faced payment delays. 
• More broadly, over 800 nurses across the hospital reported concerns about unpaid overtime and off-the-clock work expectations.

Linda Spring, an operating room nurse, reported not receiving her paycheck at all during the week before Christmas, with some colleagues waiting weeks for payment. For working professionals with financial obligations, these delays can create serious hardships. As Cary noted, "When nurses don't receive a paycheck on time, that could be a mortgage payment, that could be a car payment missed, that could be a credit card payment missed."

Working Outside of Schedule

The complaint also alleges that management created a culture pressuring nurses to work outside scheduled hours without compensation. This includes expectations to arrive early for shifts or to clock out while still completing patient documentation to avoid overtime.

"Over a year, that extra 30 minutes unpaid a day adds up to about 6 shifts," Cary explained. "A whole paycheck of free work nurses are encouraged to provide for their employer."

MedStar Response

In response to the allegations, MedStar Washington Hospital Center acknowledged some issues in their official statement: "Where we have confirmed a mistake, we have issued corrected paychecks to impacted nurses. We are continuing our review and will expedite correction of any errors we identify."

The hospital's full statement emphasized their commitment to fair and accurate payment practices: "We are committed to paying all our associates fairly, accurately, and on-time, and we have processes in place to meet this commitment on a daily basis. We encourage associates to raise any concerns about particular paychecks."

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges many nurses face regarding fair compensation. While patient care remains the primary focus for nursing professionals, proper payment for work performed represents a fundamental workplace right that directly impacts nurses' financial stability and professional morale.

The outcome of the complaint filed with the D.C. Attorney General's office remains pending as investigations continue into the allegations.

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