The attorney general’s sixth annual Labor Day Report says that between July 2020 and June 2021, the Fair Labor Division ordered businesses to pay $5 million in restitution and $3.1 million in penalties to more than 10,000 employees.
“On Labor Day, we celebrate and honor all the workers across Massachusetts who have continued to work hard and persevere during a year of great uncertainty,” Healey said in a press release. “My office remains committed to upholding workers’ rights and enforcing our state laws to ensure every employer is providing its employees with the workplace rights and benefits to which they are entitled.”
Healey’s office prioritized investigations of wage theft in the construction industry last year and recovered nearly $2 million from 115 employers, the reports said. Over a quarter of that money came from one case against a Lowell asbestos company, which the attorney general said had failed to pay wages or overtime, hadn’t maintained an earned sick time policy and had violated payroll records laws.
Healey’s report also pointed to her office’s success investigating child labor laws. In one case, the report said, a company managing 10 Dunkin’ locations in the Boston area was penalized $120,000 for more than 1,000 violations of child labor laws.
Also highlighted in the report were the $300,000 the attorney general cited to companies in the janitorial services industry. Healey said over 950 employees were aided by the money.
If your Massachusetts employer fails to pay you for your work, contact the Law Offices of Renee Lazar at 978-844-4095 to schedule a FREE one hour no obligation consultation.
masslive.com