Press Release  Home Health Company Cited More Than $400,000 for Failing to Pay Overtime, Records Violations

Boston — A Worcester home care agency and its president have been cited $415,843 in penalties and restitution for violating Massachusetts wage and hour laws, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Prestige Health Care Services Inc. and its president Isdhory Lyamuya received two citations from the AG’s Office 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,” said AG Healey. “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.

The state’s Overtime Law requires employers to pay qualifying employees time and one half their regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a work week.

The AG’s Office Fair Labor Division has found numerous wage and hour violations in the home healthcare industry. Worcester-based Ace Medical Services Inc. was cited more than $272,000 including compensation for 240 employees for failing to pay travel time. Petra Health Care LLC in North Chelmsford was cited more than $217,000, including restitution to 175 employees, for failing to pay overtime and travel time. Maestro-Connections Home Health Systems LLC in Lawrence agreed to pay more than $1 million in restitution and penalties after failing to pay overtime to more than 600 home health aides and failing to keep accurate payroll records.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in their workplace are encouraged to file a complaint at www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor. For information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the AG’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to the AG’s Workplace Rights website www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

This matter is being handled by Assistant Attorney General Lisa Price and Inspector Ricardo Galvis, both of the AG’s Fair Labor Division.

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