Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos released his 2013 Living Wage Law Annual Report which summarizes the audits conducted during the prior year and the overall compliance with the law since its inception. Four living wage audit reports were issued in 2013 all covering emergency housing shelter providers. Our audits disclosed $135,652 of underpayments affecting 68 employees. Based on the results of these audits we noted that significant improvement is needed in the compliance of emergency housing shelter providers with the Living Wage Law.
“Our annual report shows that emergency housing shelter providers need continuous oversight to ensure enforcement of the Living Wage Law,” Comptroller Maragos said. “These employees are some of the lowest paid workers in our County and need to be paid at least $13.58 per hour with benefits, according to the County Ordinance, for the essential services that they provide.”
The most significant finding was with Peace Valley Haven Inc. The audit found that Peace Valley Haven Inc. had underpaid employees by over $120,000. Peace Valley Haven Inc. agreed to make full restitution to the employees and a follow up audit to verify this is underway.
The Nassau County Living Wage Law was enacted by the Nassau County Legislature in 2006 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. The Living Wage is currently $15.50 per hour without health benefits, or $13.58 per hour with health benefits.
Information regarding the Living Wage Law can be found at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/Livingwage/index.html
Connect with Nassau County Comptroller Maragos Online:
http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html