A: Both contractors and sub-contractors must comply with the city’s living wage laws on city contracts worth $25,000 or more. If you suspect that your labor is contributing to a city contract, file a living wage complaint and we can research the city’s contracts to give you an answer.
A: No. When you file a living wage complaint, we will not ask for photo identification, citizenship documents, or any information regarding your immigration status. We will not report your status to any other government agency. Our only concern is that employers are held accountable for fairly compensating all workers.
A: We will NOT notify your employer of your complaint without your express permission. The Boston Jobs and Living Wage Ordinance stipulates that “statements written or oral, made by an employee, shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to the Covered Vendor without the consent of the employee.”
A: Any form of retaliation – termination, wage reduction, demotion, or discrimination – is explicitly prohibited by the Boston Jobs and Living Wage Ordinance. If you believe your employer has retaliated against you for asserting your rights, file a living wage complaint and indicate the circumstances of the retaliation in the appropriate field. If our investigation reveals evidence of retaliation, we may recommend sanctions and/or order back payment of wages. An employer can be fined up to $300 a day.
A: Yes. If you have reason to believe that an employer contracted with the City of Boston, even if it is not your own, is unlawfully paying its employees less than the living wage, we want to hear about it.