"Nassau County - Long Island, New York"

Mineola, NY- Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos released his Living Wage audits of Bethany House and Glory House Recovery which provide emergency housing for women and their dependent children, and additional programs and resources. The audit found the Bethany House agency to have underpaid employees by over $10,000 and the Glory House agency to have minor instances of noncompliance with the Nassau County Living Wage Law.

Seven employees from Bethany House homeless shelter were paid below the Nassau County Living wage, totaling $10,056 for the period reviewed - January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. This underpayment was rectified after meeting with the Comptroller’s staff and the employees were compensated for the underpayment.

Glory House Recovery paid one employee at the rate of $10 per hour during the period of June 4, 2011 to July 22, 2011. This employee worked, according to paystubs submitted, a total of 366 hours during this period. He was underpaid $4.16 per hour for the 366 hours for a total underpayment of $1,523.

“All organizations have an obligation to ensure compliance with the County’s Living Wage Law. While we are pleased with the response from these agencies, in which they agree to repay the affected employees, their lapse is inexcusable,” said Comptroller Maragos.

The Nassau County Living Wage Law was enacted by the Nassau County Legislature in 2006 to raise the minimum wage employees working for most of the County’s contractors. The Comptroller’s Office is responsible for monitoring compliance with the Law. The Living Wage is currently $15.21 an hour without health benefits, or $13.35 with health benefits.

Emergency Shelter Agencies Underpay Employees by Over $10K

Audit by Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos Compels Repayment