Waste Management of Massachusetts has been ordered to pay $376,000 to settle wage violations that occurred between June 2008 and June 2011.

During that time the company did not properly pay 56 workers under prevailing wage laws according to MA Attorney General Martha Coakley. The affected workers were charged for health care coverage that they did not receive.

“This company failed to properly calculate and pay the prevailing wage for employees who opted out of its health and welfare plans,” [Coakley] said. “Employees who opt out of these plans must be paid the full prevailing wage.

The AG office released a press release as well:

From June 2008 through June 2011, Waste Management provided solid waste and recyclable material collection services to 43 communities in the Commonwealth. The AG’s investigation revealed that Waste Management made deductions from the prevailing wage for a number of employees who had opted out of one or more of the health and welfare plans offered by the company. Once notified of the violations, Waste Management fully cooperated with the investigation by the AG’s Fair Labor Division.