Hudson Valley Nail Salons to Pay Employees Back Wages, Damages

FIfteen nail salons in Westchester County and nine in Rockland County have been ordered to pay workers back pay and damages.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that, statewide, almost 150 salons will pay $2 million to 652 employees, according to the Journal News.

The names of the salons in the Hudson Valley were not provided.

The Daily News said many of the salons were paying well below the minimum wage, based on weekly rates, and often weren’t initially paying entry-level, unlicensed employees.

The announcement was part of the governor’s New York State Nail Salon Industry Enforcement Task Force, which was established in May 2015.

In a release posted on the governor’s website, Cuomo said the task force has opened investigations into more than 450 nail salons and completed 383 so far.

A series of reforms have been enacted, including posting a bill of rights for the employees and the public, securing a bond or insurance to cover failure to pay legal wages and providing adequate protective equipment such as masks and gloves.

For the complete Journal News article, go here. The Daily News article can be accessed here.

To read the governor’s entire press release, click here.