Dozens Of CT Nail Salons Shut Down By State: Here's Where

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The state Labor Department issued 24 stop work orders after a nail salon inspection sweep throughout the state to check on compliance with Connecticut's wage laws.

Nail salons in six municipalities were issued the stop work orders to to violations of no worker compensation coverage, cash payments without maintaining payroll records and misclassifying employees as independent contractors.

The stop work orders will keep the affected businesses closed until they correct all deficiencies. They can also be fined $300 per worker per day for the violations.

“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.

Hearst Connecticut Media recently highlighted the wage issues that are prevalent in the Connecticut nail salon industry. Connecticut is the only state that doesn't license nail technicians and estheticians.

The state Department of Revenue Services along with Fairfield, Greenwich, Hamden and Milford police departments joined in on the day-long operation.

“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,"said Wage and Workplace Standards Director Tom Wydra.

The state Labor Department issued 118 stop work orders in 2018.

Below are the affected salons:

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