7 Fairfield Nail Salons Shut Down By State

FAIRFIELD, CT — Seven Fairfield-based nail salons were issued stop work orders this week by the state Department of Labor, officials announced Friday. A total of 24 nail salons across Connecticut were issued the stop work orders.

According to the agency's Division of Wage and Workplace Standards, nail salons in six towns — including Fairfield — 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.

The seven Fairfield locations are: 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; and Healing Garden, 63 Unquowa Road.

"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 a news release. "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.

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.

“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.”