NYC Comptroller secures $145K-plus in back wages and benefits for apartment building service workers

December 18, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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WILLIAMSBURG AND CITY HALL — THE NYC COMPTROLLER HAS SECURED MORE THAN $145K in back wages from a building services contractor for prevailing wage violations at two apartment complexes. Comptroller Brad Lander successfully reached a settlement of $145,331.81 with Planned Lifestyle Services and Planned Building Services — divisions of Planned Companies — for failure to pay the prevailing wage and supplemental benefits to building service employees at two buildings that receive tax benefits under Real Property Tax Law § 421-a. 

The comptroller’s investigations found that Sam Spilkes, owner of an 82-unit residential building at 282 South Fifth Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and CREF 546 West 44th Street LLC, owner of a 280-unit residential building at 546 West 44th Street in Manhattan, each hired Planned Companies to provide service employees such as cleaners and doorpersons at their respective buildings. Based on complaints that both buildings’ employees filed, the Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law conducted investigations that found that Planned Companies’ workers missed out on over $140,000 in pay, and that the property owners and Planned Companies are both liable. The settlements include interest, civil penalties, as well as a requirement for Planned Companies to train payroll personnel on the prevailing wage, coordinate with the Comptroller on prevailing wage trainings for building service employees, and post notices at all buildings subject to prevailing wage requirements.

Both Spilkes and Planned Companies had been previously investigated.

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