Errors calculating pandemic-related bonuses and incentives are the reason a Maryland-based operator has been ordered to pay more than $73,000 in back wages, the company said Friday.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday announced that it had recovered just more than $73,000 from Transitions Healthcare LLC after the company had allegedly failed to pay proper overtime wages to 256 workers at five facilities in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The agency accused the provider of failing to include earned bonuses, including sign-on pay, retention bonuses and extra pay for working extra shifts. Authorities also said that Transitions Healthcare had paid rates lower than required by law by excluding the amounts it resulted in the operator paying overtime rates lower than what was required by law. 

Transitions in a statement to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on Friday said “at times” it did not calculate certain non-discretionary bonuses properly and the miscalculations were not intentional. It has since apologized to each employee impacted by the error and has paid the required back wages owed as required by law. 

“During the pandemic, the facilities managed by Transitions Healthcare, LLC were committed to showing care to its employees by making it a priority to utilize received government stimulus funds to fight the virus by providing PPE, compensation, and other support,” Matthew Maurano, Transitions Healthcare CEO, said in the statement. 

“Each company diligently worked with the Department of Labor to rectify the miscalculations and established procedures with the guidance of the Department of Labor Inspector to avoid improper calculations going forward,” he said. 

Maurano added that the operator is committed to rewarding its staff, especially for their efforts during the pandemic, and it’s “truly sorry to have not calculated some wages properly.” 

“The facility owners and its management team have been in our facilities from the very beginning of the pandemic working alongside the front-line staff showing care and support of the staff while working together to ensure that our residents were provided the safest and best care possible,” he said.