Department of Veterans Affairs Labor Class Action Settlement

Employees who worked as registered nurses, physician assistants or expanded-function dental auxiliaries at the Department of Veterans Affairs at any time since Aug. 23, 2012, and did not receive premium pay for night or Saturday shifts, regularly scheduled overtime hours on days they took annual, sick or other types of leave or received an excuse from work due to a holiday may qualify to claim compensation from a class action settlement.

The United States agreed to pay a significant settlement to resolve allegations that the Department of Veterans Affairs failed to pay required premium pay to eligible employees during certain periods of leave or excused absences. This settlement follows a court ruling stating the government must pay retroactive premium pay to affected employees.

Who can file a claim?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They are a current or former Department of Veterans Affairs employee.
• They worked as a registered nurse, physician assistant or expanded-function dental auxiliary.
• They did not receive premium pay for night or Saturday shifts, regularly scheduled overtime hours on days when they took annual, sick or nine other types of leave or received an excuse from work due to a holiday.
• They worked in these roles at any time from Aug. 23, 2012, to the present.

If the original recipient of the notice is deceased, a surviving spouse, child or parent may have the right to opt in.

How much is the Veterans Affairs payout?

Class members may receive retroactive premium pay for:

• Night or Saturday shifts
• Regularly scheduled overtime hours on days they took annual, sick or other specified types of leave
• Periods received an excuse from work due to a holiday

The covered period is from Aug. 23, 2012, to the present.

The exact amount each class member will receive depends on their individual employment records and the amount of premium pay they should have received but did not. The settlement covers:

• Saturday premium pay (25% premium for weekend shifts)
• Overtime additional pay (50% premium for overtime)
• Nighttime differential pay (10% premium for night shifts)

How to claim a settlement payment

To participate in the settlement and receive compensation, eligible individuals must submit an opt-in form online using the claim ID and PIN from their settlement notice. The deadline is Dec. 22, 2025.

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: Dec. 22, 2025

When is the Ysla v. United States payout date?

The settlement administrator will distribute payments after the claims process is complete and the court approves the final distribution.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged the United States, through the Department of Veterans Affairs, failed to pay the required premium pay to registered nurses, physician assistants and expanded-function dental auxiliaries for night or Saturday shifts, regularly scheduled overtime hours on days when they took certain types of leave or received an excuse from work due to a holiday.

The court determined the government must provide retroactive premium backpay to eligible class members, leading to the settlement.

Sources

1. Memorandum opinion and order
2. Order granting motion to reopen class notice and opt-in period
3. Settlement FAQ