On January 25, the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced $440,000 in fines against Dutch Maid Bakery, a wholesale bakery in Dorchester, and staffing agencies used by the bakery, for alleged violations of Massachusetts wage and hour laws. The case is potentially the first of many more to be pursued by Andrea Campbell, the new Attorney General.
In the Dutch Maid Bakery case, the Attorney General’s Office found that the bakery had failed to pay required minimum and overtime wages to employees, failed to keep and provide accurate pay records and pay stubs, and failed to provide employees with required notice of their rights. The staffing agencies were found to have committed similar violations, and also of having misclassified employees as independent contractors and failing to make timely payment of wages.
The sanctions quickly fulfill a campaign promise made by Attorney General Campbell. In her January 18 inaugural address, AG Campbell promised to “tackl[e] wage theft.” Further, in announcing the Dutch Maid Bakery fines, she reiterated that “tackling the issue of wage theft will remain a priority” for her office.
The Attorney General’s actions and remarks are also notable in light of legislation recently introduced before the Massachusetts legislature. On January 18, State Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Middlesex and Suffolk) introduced an act to, among other things, “prevent wage theft.” (SD.1087). In relevant part, the law introduces...
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