Lisa Phelan spoke to Global Competition Review for an article covering the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division's charges against a former owner of a Texas therapist staffing company with conspiring to lower wages paid to contractors, marking the first time the government has filed criminal charges alleging that a defendant colluded with competitors to reduce paid wages.
"Companies will need to take note of this case, and be sure that they are training their HR personnel, and anyone involved in hiring and wage decisions, on the criminal antitrust risk," Lisa said. "This policy position by antitrust enforcers is taking many companies and executives by surprise."
She added that because this is the first wage-fixing case the DOJ has brought criminally, she expects to see the defendant put up a fierce legal fight.
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