Department of Labor finds numerous FLSA violations at New Jersey gas stations
The United States Department of Labor recently announced that its continuing investigation into time and attendance violations within the New Jersey gas station industry has recovered more than $1 million for nearly 300 workers.
The money was recovered as a result of 74 investigations conducted during fiscal year 2011. Inspectors combed payroll records, surveilled suspect employers and visited service stations unannounced. Common Fair Labor Standards Act violations included failure to observe federal minimum wage requirements, insufficient record-keeping and paying "straight time" for all hours worked, even when employee attendance exceeded 40 hours in one week.
"The Labor Department's initial findings in this enforcement initiative revealed a culture of noncompliance by gas stations in New Jersey that will not be tolerated," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on the multi-year effort.
The majority of the establishments that came under the department's microscope were owned by BP. BP has since issued a reminder letter to its New York and New Jersey marketers, encouraging FLSA compliance.
Joe Petrecca, district director of the department's Wage and Hour Division in northern New Jersey, told the Star-Ledger that just one-quarter of the stations were FLSA-compliant. He attributes this to the fact that many gas station employees are "vulnerable, low-wage workers who are part of an immigrant population."
The money was recovered as a result of 74 investigations conducted during fiscal year 2011. Inspectors combed payroll records, surveilled suspect employers and visited service stations unannounced. Common Fair Labor Standards Act violations included failure to observe federal minimum wage requirements, insufficient record-keeping and paying "straight time" for all hours worked, even when employee attendance exceeded 40 hours in one week.
"The Labor Department's initial findings in this enforcement initiative revealed a culture of noncompliance by gas stations in New Jersey that will not be tolerated," said Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis on the multi-year effort.
The majority of the establishments that came under the department's microscope were owned by BP. BP has since issued a reminder letter to its New York and New Jersey marketers, encouraging FLSA compliance.
Joe Petrecca, district director of the department's Wage and Hour Division in northern New Jersey, told the Star-Ledger that just one-quarter of the stations were FLSA-compliant. He attributes this to the fact that many gas station employees are "vulnerable, low-wage workers who are part of an immigrant population."
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