US Department of Labor secures court order requiring New Jersey employer to pay $700K in back wages, damages to 48 workers denied overtime pay

News Release

US Department of Labor secures court order requiring New Jersey employer to pay $700K in back wages, damages to 48 workers denied overtime pay

VOORHEES, NJ - The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment and final order in federal district court requiring a New Jersey drywall installer to pay $725,000 in back wages, damages, and civil money penalties after denying 48 workers overtime pay.

The department's Wage and Hour Division found that P & B Partitions Inc. failed to pay their employees for pre-shift work while they waited for transportation to their jobsites. The failure to pay constitutes a violation under the Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime provisions.

"Tasks completed to prepare for the job, and in this case, while waiting to get to the worksite, is work that must be compensated," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Charlene Rachor in Southern New Jersey. "Failing to pay workers overtime wages deprives them of their rights, and we will hold employers accountable for such actions."

The consent judgment requires P & B Partitions Inc. to pay $350,000 in back wages, an equal amount in liquidated damages to 48 workers, and requires payment of an additional $25,000 in civil penalties. The judgment was entered in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on June 26, 2026.

"The U.S. Department of Labor will pursue legal action to ensure that all employees receive the compensation they are legally owed," said Regional Solicitor of Labor Jeffrey S. Rogoff in New York. "This case demonstrates that employers can face costly consequences if they do not comply with federal wage law."

Employees and employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division with questions and requests for compliance assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency's industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division. The agency's PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential minimum wage and overtime violations under the FLSA, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including how workers can use a search tool if they believe they may be owed back wages collected by the division. Download the agency's free WorkWise Timesheet app for iOS and Android devices to track hours and pay.