A major Dunkin’ franchise operator in Eastern Massachusetts and two staffing firms will pay a combined $1.46 million in citations and fines for misclassifying workers and failing to pay wages on time, according to Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell’s office. The enforcement action resolves state labor violations affecting approximately 100 employees across more than 20 locations.
Northern Management Group and Staffing Firms Penalized
According to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, the primary franchise operator involved is Northern Management Group LLC, which runs more than 20 Dunkin’ locations in the region. State officials stated that Northern Management and its three top executives—Jigar Patel, Nikul Patel, and Nilesh Patel—are responsible for the penalties. They are joined in the financial settlement by staffing firms D&J Services Group and Prime Management Services Corp., along with staffing company manager Daylon Oliveira.
Investigators found that starting in 2023, Northern Management contracted with the staffing agencies to fill core store positions such as bakers, shift leaders, coffee makers, and managers. State officials noted that these employees were improperly classified as independent contractors and temporary workers, which stripped them of standard employment protections.
Wage Delays and Travel Pay Violations
Beyond worker misclassification, the state investigation uncovered systematic payroll failures. According to Attorney General Campbell’s office, the collective employers routinely failed to pay earned wages to employees within the mandated six-day time frame following the close of a pay period between August 2023 and August 2025.
Investigators also determined that workers were occasionally denied compensation for travel time between different Dunkin’ store locations, a direct violation of state labor laws. The $1.46 million recovered from the companies and managers will be distributed directly as restitution to the 100 impacted workers, with the remaining balance directed to the state.
“Workers deserve timely paychecks and the protections afforded to them under state law. Anything less is unacceptable,” Attorney General Campbell said in a public statement regarding the case.
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