BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced Green Paradise Landscaping and owner Bruno M. Amaral will pay $31,000 in restitution after allegations of violating the state’s wage and hour laws.
“This business failed to pay its employees the appropriate wages they earned,” Healey said. “Our office will continue to work to address wage theft in all of its forms and make sure that all employees in Massachusetts are paid what they are owed.”
According to Healey’s office, the company did not follow proper overtime laws during multiple pay periods in its payment to nine employees. More than $24,000 in total earned wages allegedly went unpaid.
Massachusetts’ overtime law requires companies to pay qualifying employees time and one-half their regular rate for all hours worked over for in a week.
Additionally, Healey’s office said the defendants misclassified employees as independent contractors and failed to maintain accurate payroll records.