New Jersey Gas Station Attendants Receive $5.5 Million in Back Wages
Wage and hour violations were found at Shell, Exxon, BP, and others, according to DOL.
During the past five years, more than 1,100 attendants at Shell, Exxon, BP, and other gas stations in New Jersey have been denied the minimum wage and, in some cases, overtime pay, according to a DOL news release. Thanks to a multi-year enforcement initiative by the Wage and Hour Division, these workers have received $5.5 million in back wages and damages.
"The wages recovered for these low-wage workers will help them pay rent and put food on the table for their families. These wages will also fuel the local economy," said Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "The U.S. Labor Department is determined to ensure that employers follow the law and to create a level playing field for those competitors who pay their workers all of the wages they have rightfully earned."
"Our investigations of the New Jersey gas station industry found widespread violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions," said Mark Watson, regional administrator of the Wage and Hour Division in the Northeast. "To combat these violations, we are engaged in strategic enforcement and outreach efforts with employer organizations and employee advocacy groups to educate all parties on their rights and responsibilities. Our efforts are having an impact on the industry."