3 Ocean County companies forbidden from NJ contracts for not paying workers comp fines

Michael L. Diamond, Asbury Park Press

Three Ocean County companies that owe a total of $135,000 in penalties to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development for failing to provide adequate workers' compensation coverage have been added to a public database designed to call attention to the problem, the department said Thursday.

Advanced Closets LLC in Toms River; Dope Musik Ent. LLC in Toms River; and Absolute Sprinkler & Piping Inc. in Brick also are prohibited from public contracts with the state, county and local governments until the fines are paid, the department said.

The companies were among 19 businesses statewide that were added to the Workplace Accountability in Labor List, known as the WALL. The businesses have failed to pay in total nearly $932,000 in penalties, and have had multiple opportunities to pay or appeal their assessment, the department said.

The WALL was enacted by the state Legislature in 2020 to give the Labor Department a tool to enforce state laws designed to combat worker misclassification and exploitation. Businesses receive letters warning that their company’s name will be posted to The WALL unless they resolve their outstanding liabilities. They are given 20 days from when they receive the notice to pay in full or challenge the decision.

Previous companies named: Toms River contractor banned from NJ contracts over labor laws; see who else made the list

A man who answered the phone at Advanced Closets declined to comment. Officials from Dope Musik and Absolute Sprinkler couldn't be reached for comment late Thursday.

All three companies were fined $45,000 each for violations of the state's Workers' Compensation Law, according to the Labor Department.

New Jersey companies are required to have Workers' Compensation insurance to cover employees who are injured on the job. They also are required to post notice in the workplace that they have coverage; they need to provide information to employees when they are hired about the benefit, who to report an injury to, and where to go for medical treatment if they are injured on the job.

The WALL now has 120 businesses that collectively owe $13.5 million, the department said.

These companies too: Three Shore contractors who owe $220K to workers added to NJ's public shaming labor wall

Other Monmouth and Ocean County companies that were previously added to the list:

  • Dar's Staffing LLC, Little Egg Harbor, owes $97,635 for violations of the state's wage and hour laws.

  • Fresh Look Detailing, Barnegat, owes $35,000 for violations of the state's worker's compensation law.

  • Jay's Daycare LLC, Neptune, owes $13,357 for violations of the state's wage and hour law and earned sick leave law.

  • Lane Mechanical Heating and Cooling LLC, Middletown, owes $65,000 for violations of the state's wage and hour laws.

  • Medex Health Care Services Inc., with offices in Toms River and Wall, owes $171,876 for violations of the state's unemployment compensation law, temporary disability benefits law and family temporary disability leave law.

  • Premier Security and Electronics Inc., Aberdeen, owes $153,658 for violations of the state's wage and hour laws.

  • Springfield Woodwork Corp., which has an office in Jackson, owes $289,592 for violations of the state's unemployment compensation law, temporary disability benefits law, and family temporary disability leave law.

  • Two River Interiors LLC, Atlantic Highlands, owes $45,000 for violations of the state's worker's compensation law.

  • Vortechx Applied Technologies LLC, Middletown, owes $58,886 for violations of the state's wage and hour laws.

  • R.A. Florio Building Contractors Inc., Toms River, owes $39,556 for violations of unemployment compensation law, the temporary disability benefits law and the family temporary disability leave law

Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Ocean County companies banned from NJ contracts over unpaid fines

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