The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has suspended eight employees and four supervisors during an investigation into alleged overtime theft at its Charlestown maintenance facility.
“MassDOT continues to take these allegations seriously,” the agency stated in an email Thursday.
Undersecretary Jonathan Gulliver of MassDOT requested a thorough management examination of overtime procedures across the Highway Division after receiving media reports that maintenance personnel at their Charlestown location had participated in dubious overtime invoicing. The new overtime approval and tracking tool, set to launch in the fall, will now be introduced this summer.
“The Department also hired independent investigators, who have already interviewed more than 20 personnel regarding operations at the Charlestown repair facility,” MassDOT stated. At this time, MassDOT has placed eight employees and four supervisors on unpaid administrative leave pending disciplinary proceedings, during which they will face penalties up to and including termination. In addition, a senior supervisor was reassigned as part of ongoing management initiatives.”
The government warns that employees who commit payroll fraud or theft may face criminal charges and loss of pension. Every day, the vast majority of MassDOT personnel perform their jobs professionally and honestly, under difficult circumstances. “Any conduct that violates the public trust will be aggressively addressed.”
MassDOT’s investigators will also broaden their review of overtime practices, oversight, and workforce tracking systems across all operating divisions and shared services “to ensure that the necessary tools, policies, procedures, and management controls are in place and being properly followed.”
Gov. Maura Healey has predicted that “people will lose their jobs” due to alleged overtime theft, while awaiting the investigation’s findings. “I’m outraged any time someone rips off the public or taxpayers,” she stated. “And you know, I hope whatever the investigation yields, know that they’re going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
A reporter asked Healey if higher-ups were complicit or “just asleep at the switch.” Gulliver has been asked to “get to the bottom of all of this,” but Healey admits she doesn’t have enough information. As a previous attorney general, I prosecuted fraud cases, including those involving public personnel, and I will ensure that continues. “If people are messing around, they’re not at work; they’re not where they should be. It’s outrageous,” Healey added.
She continued, “When I saw that, I went through the roof. So, yes, I’m sure people will lose their jobs, and I’m sure there will be criminal investigations and prosecutions.”
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