NJDOL Issues Stop-Work Order to Passaic Drywall Contractor, Assesses $12,000 in Penalties

TRENTON – Investigators from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (NJDOL) Division of Wage and Hour Compliance issued the following stop-work order on May 8, 2026:

Employer: Ruben Gonzales D/B/A Jersey Heavy Drywall, Passaic, N.J.
Work Location: Holiday Inn Express, 1111 Rt. 73, North Mount Laurel, N.J.

Category: Construction

Nature of Work: Interior upgrades

Violations: Records violations; hindrance of the investigation; Earned Sick Leave violations

Monetary Assessments: Penalties $12,000

Workers Affected: 4

“This stop-work order sends a clear message that New Jersey will not tolerate employers who exploit workers and obstruct our efforts to enforce the law,” said Assistant Commissioner for Wage and Hour Compliance Joseph Petrecca. “We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to ensure workers receive the wages, benefits, and protections they have earned and that the law requires.”

NJDOL has issued 223 stop-work orders since these powers were expanded in July 2019.

Stop-work orders are initiated by NJDOL to halt work being performed in a manner that exploits workers, or is otherwise noncompliant with state laws and regulations. An employer may appeal a stop-work order, in which case NJDOL has seven days to schedule a hearing.

NJDOL continues to monitor locations where stop-work orders have been issued, and can assess civil penalties of $5,000 per day against an employer conducting business in violation of the order. The stop-work order may be lifted if and when any remaining back wages and penalties have been paid and all related issues have been resolved.

For more information on worker benefits and protections, please visit myworkrights.nj.gov.