NYC Comptroller Recovers $640K+ in Owed Back Wages for Office Workers at City Medical Facilities 

New York, NY — The New York City Comptroller’s Office reached a substantial settlement with United Staffing Solutions, Inc. (United) for prevailing wage violations concerning 54 temporary office workers at various medical facilities across the five boroughs. The settlement payments total $644,032.81, including back wages, civil penalties, and interest.  

“United Staffing willfully underpaid fifty-four medical office workers their hard-earned wages under the City’s prevailing wage laws,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “My office will fight for every prevailing wage worker employed or contracted by the City of New York to ensure they get the money and benefits they deserve.” 

“As a result of this settlement, fifty-four workers will receive back wages that are years overdue — including one worker who was shorted nearly $30,000,” said Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights at the Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law. “The Bureau of Labor Law is committed to protecting workers’ rights and holding City-contracted employers accountable.” 

The Comptroller Office’s Bureau of Labor Law’s investigation found that United failed to pay prevailing wage and supplemental benefits to 54 employees who worked as secretaries, clerks, and receptionists from April 2015 through August 2018. The Bureau of Labor Law filed a lawsuit against United Staffing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) in April 2024. After the Bureau of Labor Law presented its case to the trial judge, United agreed to settle the matter and admitted to a finding of willfulness against the company. As a result, the Bureau of Labor Law recovered significant back wages for workers, including one worker who was owed nearly $30,000 during this period.  

This determination is United’s first willful violation. If they receive a second disposition against them within a six-year period, the City will bar United from submitting a bid or award them any city service contract for five years.  

Under the New York Labor Law, the New York City Comptroller sets and enforces prevailing wage and living wage laws for public works projects and certain service contracts in the City of New York. Temporary office workers are covered by prevailing wage under New York City’s Living Wage Law, NYC Administrative Code § 6-109.  

Agency Attorneys Alta Viscomi and Kristyn Sanito and Supervising Attorney Amy Luo handled the litigation and presented the Bureau of Labor Law’s case at OATH . The investigation of this matter was handled by Investigator Annabelle Walters under the supervision of Deputy Director of Investigations Jose Quiroz and Director of Investigations Francisco Gonzalez. The audit was performed by Xiaoyue Lin under the supervision of Stuart Rimmer, Director of Audit. The Bureau of Labor Law is overseen by Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights.  

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