Living Wage Law May Need Revisions to Restrict Waivers

MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos issued the 2016 Living Wage Law Annual Report highlighting the recovery of over $11K for underpaid employees and the frequent use of waivers that seek to sidestep compliance with the Living Wage Law.  Cumulatively, the Comptroller’s efforts have recovered $1,089,259 of unpaid wages and uncredited compensated time off for employees since the law was enacted in 2007. During 2016 the County granted ten waivers to County vendors compared with eleven the prior year. The County’s Living Wage increased on August 1, 2017 to $13.98 per hour for employees receiving health benefits and $16.07 per hour for those not receiving benefits.

“It is gratifying the County’s Living Wage Law and Comptroller’s Office enforcement through audits recovered significant money for underpaid employees,” said Comptroller George Maragos. “However, we are concerned that too many annual waivers to the law are being granted, especially to the same vendors. I have requested the auditors begin a review of the waiver process to close loop holes.”

The Comptroller’s Office performed a living wage review of Armor Correctional Health Services Inc.  Twenty-three employees were owed $11,287 for underpaid wages and compensated time.  Armor failed to pay the required hourly rate and their policies did not provide compensated time off for employees working between 20 and 23 hours per week, or classified as per diem, as required by the law.  The Comptroller’s Office currently has six Living Wage reviews in process.

The Nassau County Living Wage Law was enacted to raise the minimum wage of employees working for a majority of the County’s contractors.  The Comptroller’s Office is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Law. To date, $1,089,259 of unpaid wages and uncredited compensated time off owed to 1,405 employees have been identified by the Living Wage audits completed by the Comptroller’s Office. The Comptroller’s Office has released 37 Living wage audit reports for 30 different contractors.

Information regarding the Living Wage Law can be found at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/1597/Living-Wage