A Union-based contractor owes $2.75 million in back wages, penalties, and fees after the New Jersey Department of Labor investigated their practices at six different works sites, including one in Bayonne and one in Jersey City.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The NJDOL further investigated Three Sons Restoration LLC after finding wage violations at two of the contractor’s job sites in August 2019 – Maurice Hawk Elementary School in West Windsor and Bayonne Fire House, Engine 6 in Bayonne – both of which resulted in stop-work orders.
These stop-work orders were the first such actions taken by the NJDOL following Gov. Phil Murphy’s (D) expansion of the department’s enforcement authorities in July 2019.
The NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour Compliance subsequently found that, at four additional worksites located in Jersey City, Oakland, and Newark, Three Sons Restoration failed to pay appropriate prevailing wages to its employees, and, in some cases, did not compensate them at all.
In total, Three Sons Restoration owes more than $1.17 million in back wages to more than 90 employees.
The two original cases are being contested at the Office of Administrative Law, while the other four were not appealed and the determination is final, and as a result, the firm has been debarred.
“These workers are doing an honest day’s work but not getting the honest day’s pay they deserve,” Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Wage and Hour Compliance Joseph Petrecca said in a statement.
“It is theft, and it is unlawful. Although we know the vast majority of our employers are honest, it is our job to protect our workers from those who refuse to treat their employees fairly and in accordance with the law.”
The company was also cited for various records violations and misclassification of workers on multiple projects.
As of December 2020, Three Sons Restoration has been debarred from bidding on or engaging in any public works projects in New Jersey for three years.
Additionally, Three Sons Restoration’s registration as a public works contractor expired in June 2020 and has not been renewed.
Per state law, any general contractors who employed Three Sons Restoration at their job sites can also be held liable for the workers’ unpaid wages.
