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Worcester Home Health Agency to Pay $415K for Payroll Violations

By TWIW Staff | March 6, 2020
Last Updated: March 23, 2021

WORCESTER – A home health care agency and its president will have to pay more than $415,000 in penalties and restitution for violating sate wage and hour laws.

According to Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, Prestige Health Care Services Inc. of Worcester and its president Isdhory Lyamuya received two citations for failing to maintain true and accurate payroll and timekeeping records and for failing to pay overtime wages to 128 employees.

“Wage theft in the home health care industry is a growing problem across the country,” Healey said. “Home health aides provide essential services to seniors and those living with disabilities, and employers have a duty to track and properly compensate them for the hours they spend on the job.”

The AG’s Office began investigating Prestige after receiving complaints from former employees alleging nonpayment of wages and overtime. The AG’s Office also received complaints from 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

A records demand issued by investigators revealed that Lyamuya consistently failed to keep accurate payroll and timekeeping records and underpaid workers by failing to pay them time and one half their regular rate for all hours worked over 40 in a week.

Prestige Health Care Services previously received three citations from the AG’s Office in 2019 for failing to furnish records to the AG’s Office, failing to make timely payment of wages, and overtime violations for a total of $21,060 in restitution and penalties.

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