Report by Paula Antolini, March 8, 2019, 6:11PM EDT
WETHERSFIELD, March 8, 2019 – The Labor Department issued 24 Stop Work orders this week after visiting 39 nail salons in eight towns throughout the state to ensure businesses were in compliance with Connecticut wage laws. According to the agency’s Division of Wage and Workplace Standards, nail salons in six towns were issued Stop Work orders for violations that included no worker’s compensation coverage, cash payments without maintaining required payroll records, and misclassifying employees as independent contractors. Finding the best Payroll software can help businesses run their payroll smoother, but running a correct and proper payroll record is legally required of all businesses for auditing purposes.
“Although we recognize the importance of keeping businesses open and employees on the job, our first responsibility is to ensure that workers are being paid correctly for the jobs that they do, and proper protections are in place should they get injured while on the job,” State Labor Commissioner Kurt Westby said. “In promoting workplace compliance, we help create a level playing field so employers doing the right thing can remain competitive.” Westby noted that the agency is working with the businesses to get them into compliance with state laws, with the goal to get many re-opened by this weekend.
The following nail salons were issued Stop Work orders:
BRIDGEPORT
T.J. Nails, 4279 Main Street
Rose Nails, DBA Ren & Jiang Brothers Inc., 4569 Main Street
Sweety Nails, 2537 Main Street
Cathy’s Nail Salon, 60 Huntington Turnpike
Prisca Nails, 529 Broadbridge Road
FAIRFIELD
Tiffany Nails and More, 35 Kings Highway
Meadow Spa, 391 Meadow Street
Sunshine Spa, 1551 Post Road
Oasis Spa, 222 Post Road
New Care Spa, 1700 Post Road
JY Healing Spa, 607 Kings Highway
Healing Garden, 63 Unquowa Road
GREENWICH
QQ Nail Spa, 522 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich
La Bella Spa, dba Bonnie’s Foot Reflexology, 522 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich
Rose Nail Salon, 253 E. Putnam Avenue, Cos Cob
HAMDEN
YY Nails, 3000 Whitney Avenue
Bella Nails, 58 Skiff Street
Fancy Nails, 2315 Whitney Avenue
MERIDEN
Peony Nails, 496 S. Broad Street
MILFORD
Nailopia & Spa Inc., dba Pink Nails, 115 Gulf Street
Elegant Nails & Spa LLC dba Elegant Nails, 232 Boston Post Road
Clover Nail & Spa., 1680 Boston Post Road
Milford Pinky Nails, 404 Bridgeport Avenue
Pearl Nails & Spa, 100 Lansdale Avenue
“We appreciate the support of the community and thank the Department of Revenue Services and the Fairfield, Greenwich, Hamden and Milford police departments for their partnership and assistance in this day-long effort,” said Wage and Workplace Standards Director Tom Wydra. “When employers play by the rules, appropriate taxes are paid to our state, unemployment insurance and worker’s compensation coverage is in place to protect workers, and taxpayers are not burdened by costs incurred when a business does not follow the law.”
In 2018, the agency issued 118 Stop Work orders. When a Stop Work order is issued, a business is unable to reopen until it provides proof that all deficiencies have been corrected. Under state law employers are fined for those days the business operated in violation. Under state statute, this is $300 per worker per day of the violations.
Noting that a main objective of the agency is to educate about workplace laws, Wydra also encouraged employers doing business in Connecticut to consult the agency website at www.ct.gov/dol or contact wage staff at 860-263-6790.
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