NJ orders Boston Market to stop operations across the state

🍗 A stop-work order affects 27 Boston Market locations in New Jersey

🍗 The order can only be lifted when all penalties and back wages are paid

🍗 The investigation began with a complaint from a worker in Mercer County

The New Jersey Department of Labor has ordered operations to stop at dozens of Boston Market locations after finding multiple violations of workers' rights.

According to DOL, the violations include more than $600,000 in wages owed to 314 workers across the Garden State.

The company has appealed the stop-work order, and the DOL has a week to schedule a hearing on the matter.

"NJDOL continues to monitor locations where stop-work orders have been issued, and can assess civil penalties of $5,000 per day against an employer conducting business in violation of the order," state officials said in a news release. "The stop-work order may be lifted if and when any remaining back wages and penalties have been paid and all related issues have been resolved."

Investigation into Boston Market

An investigation into the restaurant chain began in November 2022 when DOL received a complaint from a worker at the Route 33 location in Hamilton, Mercer County.

Since that time, nearly three dozen complaints were filed, naming several Boston Market locations in the state, according to New Jersey officials.

Beyond back wages, investigators cited the company for violations such as failure to pay minimum wage and earned sick leave, records violations, and hindrance of the investigation.

"With restaurants across the country, Boston Market needs to set a better example for fair treatment of its workers," said Joseph Petrecca, assistant commissioner of DOL's Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance.

Boston Chicken of NJ, the parent company, was also assessed administrative fees and penalties totaling more than $2 million.

New Jersey 101.5 has reached out to Boston Market for comment.

The following Boston Market locations were issued a stop-work order

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