$226K Owed In Back Pay, Damages To Atlantic Co. Gas Station Attendants: Feds

ABSECON, NJ — A federal court ruled that six workers from three Atlantic County gas stations are owed $226K in back pay and damages after their employers denied them full wages, the U.S. Department of Labor said Monday.

The employer, Edison-based Point Pleasant Associates Inc., owned by Bidiawatie Singh and company officer Surjeet Singh, also retaliated against the workers at Spirit Gas Station (14 South NY Ave.) and Sun Petro Gas (101 Absecon Blvd.), both in Absecon, along with Delta Gas (734 W. White Horse Pike) in Egg Harbor Township, the DOL said.

“Our investigations show that the pay practices of New Jersey’s gas station industry employers all too commonly shortchange workers and violate federal law,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Charlene Rachor in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. “This judgment secures hard-earned wages for gas station workers who labor long hours mostly outdoors trying to support themselves and their families.”

Attendants were sometimes required to work 12-hour days, seven days a week, the DOL said.

The investigation found that workers were not paid the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and overtime rates for hours over a 40-hour workweek, the DOL said.

Employers also directed workers to sign false statements in an attempt to disguise the illegal pay practices, the DOL said, violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.

As a result of the investigation, the DOL recovered $107,149 in back wages, $107,149 in liquidated damages and $12,000 in punitive damages. The employers were also ordered to pay $3,702 in civil money penalties, the DOL said.