Project Management vs. Payroll: Master Massachusetts Prevailing Wage

In this episode of The Prevailing Wage Report, host Mark Van Auken sits down with Heather Torretta, owner of Prevailing Wage Consulting, to dive into Massachusetts' heavily regulated public construction market. Unlike standard federal Davis-Bacon projects, Massachusetts operates with strict state-specific rules enforced directly by the Department of Labor Standards and the Attorney General.

Heather highlights the critical differences in wage determinations, job task classifications across counties, and the unique requirement that subcontractors submit certified payroll directly to the awarding state agency rather than through the prime contractor. She also breaks down the severe financial and legal stakes of non-compliance, including back wages, active enforcement, and triple "treble" damages. Finally, Heather shares why general contractors must treat public construction prevailing wage in Massachusetts as an active project management task rather than a routine payroll function.

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Host: Mark Van Auken

Guest: Heather Torretta, Owner of Prevailing Wage Consulting

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 Project Management Over Payroll
• 00:44 Massachusetts Public Construction Market
• 01:38 Federal vs. Massachusetts State Rules
• 02:36 Project-Specific Wage Determination Sheet Mistakes
• 04:23 Work Performance vs. Job Titles
• 05:45 Subcontractors Direct Agency Certified Reporting
• 07:06 Attorney General Enforcement and Treble Damages
• 07:55 Would You Rather: Chef vs. Cleaner
• 09:07 Formulaic Success in Massachusetts Projects