Boston Market restaurants shuttered in New Jersey over unpaid wages are allowed to reopen

By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI
Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Labor officials in New Jersey have lifted a stop-work order that had temporarily shut down more than two dozen Boston Market restaurants in the state. The move came after officials say the owner paid more than $630,000 in back wages to hundreds of workers. The Department of Labor had issued the stop-work order on Aug. 15 against 27 restaurants across the state after an investigation found multiple violations of workers’ rights. The state also imposed nearly $2.6 million in penalties against the firm. The order was lifted  after the 314 employees received all their back pay. The company has requested a hearing challenging the state’s findings after the stop-work order was issued.