Mineola, NY- 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
Connect with Nassau County Comptroller Maragos Online:
http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.html