The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development lifted a stop-work order that temporarily shut down nearly 30 Boston Market restaurants after the owner paid more than $630,000 in back wages owed to 314 workers.
The 27 locations across the state were initially ordered closed Aug. 14 after labor officials said the rotisserie chicken chain would have to pay nearly $2.6 million in fines, which included the back wages as well as penalties for violating laws that protect workers’ rights.
In a Sept. 14 press release, NJDOL said the restaurants could reopen since employees received all their back pay; however, additional damages and fees may be levied against Boston Market.
Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said the case is “exactly the reason Gov. [Phil] Murphy and our legislators empowered our department to issue stop-work orders against employers that are seemingly willfully operating in bad faith.”
“We’re glad this investigation resulted in every dollar making it into the pockets of those who earned the money. Hopefully this action puts other bad actors on notice: If you don’t pay your workers, we will shut you down,” he said in a statement.
Subsequent findings included: unpaid/late payment of wages, hindrance of the investigation, failure to pay minimum wage, records violations, failure to pay earned sick leave and failure to maintain records for earned sick leave, NJDOL said.
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