Fringe Benefit, Payroll Reporting Violations Cost Contractor $67K in Back Wages

An investigation into a public works project in Lake County turned into a costly lesson on certified payroll compliance.

The Illinois Department of Labor’s (IDOL) Wage Transparency and Construction Compliance Division investigated Absolute Home Improvements & Cleaning Service over its work on a publicly funded construction project. Investigators found the company failed to pay required fringe benefit rates to eight employees and didn’t comply with the certified payroll reporting requirements under the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act.

The IDOL recovered $67,494.28 in back wages for the eight affected employees. The company also paid $6,794.48 in penalties, bringing the total cost to more than $74,000.

Payroll Takeaways

Public project work adds a layer of complexity that standard payroll processes don’t always account for.

• Confirm employee classifications and wage rates against the prevailing wage determination for the specific county before work begins
• Verify fringe benefit calculations match what’s required for that county, not just what’s typically offered, and
• Review certified payroll reports against actual payroll records before submission, not after a complaint triggers an audit.

More info: IDOL press release