Nine Boston Market Locations In Bergen County Issued 'Stop Work' Orders From State Of NJ

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — More than two dozen New Jersey locations of Boston Market, including nine in Bergen County, have been ordered to temporarily stop operating after a state investigation found "multiple violations of workers’ rights," the state said on Tuesday.

The company owes more than $600,000 in back wages to 314 workers, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL).

Boston Market may have to pay more than $2.5 million in back wages, fees, and damages, which officials assessed to parent company Boston Chicken of NJ, LLC.

A Boston Market worker in Hamilton (Mercer County) submitted a complaint last November to the department's Division of Wage and Hour and Compliance that prompted an investigation, state officials said.

Since the state began investigating, NJDOL officials said the division received close to three dozen more complaints about several New Jersey Boston Market locations.

Citations 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, said the NJDOL.

The NJDOL’s Division of Wage and Hour and Contract Compliance has the authority to immediately halt work at any public or private worksite when an investigation finds evidence that an employer may have violated state wage, benefit or tax laws.

Boston Market has requested a hearing to appeal the order, said the NJDOL on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

The state Department of Labor 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.

Bergen County Stores

A call to the Mahwah location at (201) 828-9399 on Wednesday was answered with a recording saying that catering requests are handled by the website, and callers could press 1 to speak to the local restaurant. That option went unanswered.

Here is a complete list of Boston Market locations that were issued a stop-work order, according to the NJDOL. To see if your local restaurant is open, give them a call or check the Boston Market website.

NJ Locations Cited:

491 Ridge Rd, North Arlington, NJ 07031
314 Essex Street, Lodi, NJ 07644
180 Hackensack Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07602
21-20 Broadway, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
321 Broad Street, Ridgefield, NJ 07657
20 Wycoff Avenue, Waldwick, NJ 07463
395 NJ-17, Mahwah, NJ 07430
175 Kinderkamack Road, Emerson, NJ 07630
275 Livingston Street, Northvale, NJ 07647
471 Central Avenue, East Orange, NJ 07018
247 NJ-10 East, Succasunna, NJ 07876
332 Route 10 West, East Hanover, NJ 07936
1160 US-46, Clifton, NJ 07013
1342 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07012
523 Chestnut Street, Union, NJ 07083
770 Route 33, Hamilton, NJ 08619
1729 N. Olden Avenue, Ewing Township, NJ 08638
300 Rt-18, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
878 US Rt. 1 North Bound, Edison, NJ 08817
1560 St. Georges Avenue, Avenel, NJ 07001
4159 US 9, Howell, NJ 07731
1103 Broad Street, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
900 Easton Avenue #165, Somerset, NJ 08873
514 High Street, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
5716 Blackhorse Pike, Blackwood, NJ 08012

891 Hurffville Road, Woodbury, NJ 08096
301 S. Main Road, Vineland, NJ 08360

For more information, click here.

Patch Editor Michelle Rotuno-Johnson contributed to this report.