TRENTON, NJ - A Nutley restaurant was issued a stop-work order by the NJ Department of Labor (NJDOL) after the owner failed to pay more than $100,000 in back wages and penalties. A 2018 complaint about workers not receiving the correct amount of tips from credit card initiated the action. There are separate fines for paying workers below minimum wage.
The NJDOL Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance the stop-work notice to Bella Luce Restaurant and Bar at 507 Franklin Ave. on Sept 21.
The owner of the establishment, Joseph Capasso of Bella Luce/GLO L.L.C., did not appear for an initial NJDOL inspection stemming from the 2018 complaint and was subsequently issued a subpoena.
Payroll records indicated workers were not paid minimum wage or overtime, and point of sale records proved workers were not given the tips owed to them.
The NJDOT performed an audit confirming that $95,653.12 was due in back wages to 19 workers. The company was cited for violations relating to records, minimum wage, overtime, hindering the investigation, and unpaid wages, and was fined $9,565.31 in fees and $5,000 in penalties. A judgement was entered and the collection process began in 2019, which the company failed to satisfy.
“The NJDOL will not rest until New Jersey workers are paid every penny they are rightfully due,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “New Jersey is one of the most pro-worker states in the nation, and everyone doing a job here deserves the fair treatment,...
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