The state Department of Labor announced Tuesday it has issued stop-work orders against 27 Boston Market restaurants across New Jersey, forcing them to temporarily close until they pay $2.5 million in back wages, fines and other penalties for violating laws that protect workers’ rights.
Boston Market, based in Golden, CO. has requested a hearing challenging the findings of the state’s investigation, which began in November with a tip from an employee at the Hamilton, Mercer County location, the labor department announced.
The investigation uncovered violations such as unpaid or late payment of wages, failure to pay minimum wage and earned sick leave, failure to maintain records for earned sick leave and hindering the state’s investigation.
The restaurants collectively owe 314 employees $607,471 in back pay, according to the state’s announcement. The operators also must pay $1.2 million in damages, while Boston Chicken of NJ was slapped with an administrative fee of $182,241.30 and $549,500 in administrative penalties, for a total of $2.5 million.
“With restaurants across the country, Boston Market needs to set a better example for fair treatment of its workers,” said Joseph Petrecca, assistant commissioner for the state Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance. “Thanks to the Murphy Administration, the New Jersey Department of Labor has the tools to carry out large-scale enforcement efforts within the state so we can work with employers to stop worker...
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