Press Release  AG Campbell Secures Over $665,000 In Citations Against Boston-Based Neptune Garment For Wage, Overtime, And Sick Time Violations

BOSTON — Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced a series of citations against Neptune Garment Company, a closely-held Boston-based manufacturing business, and its owner and president, John Kindregan, totaling $669,426. The citations, including penalties and restitution, are for failure to make timely payment of wages, failure to pay overtime, and failure to provide earned sick time.  

“In this case, Neptune Garment failed to pay their employees for hours worked and denied them access to earned sick time,” said AG Campbell. “My office will continue to ensure companies are complying with our wage and hour laws.” 

The investigation revealed that Neptune violated Massachusetts Earned Sick Time law by not allowing workers to use their sick time. Under the law, employees in Massachusetts are entitled to accrue an hour of earned sick time for every 30 hours worked and employees must be permitted to take job-protected sick leave after 90 days of employment.  

The investigation further revealed a failure by Neptune to pay employees for all working time mandated by law. Employees described that it was common practice for them to punch-in before 7:30 AM, as they were required to clean their station and be ready to begin work. Employees were not paid for the time that they logged before 7:30, resulting in non-payment of wages. Further, Neptune deducted an automatic 30-minute “meal break” from employees daily working hours, yet workers maintained they were not allowed to leave the work area or even use their cellphones during these meal breaks.  

In addition, Neptune failed to pay employees time and one half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a week, in violation of the states’ overtime law. 

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in the workplace are encouraged to file a complaint online at www.mass.gov/ago/fld. For more information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the AG’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages. 

This matter was handled by Supervising Investigator Jennifer Pak, Investigator Kevin Todd and Assistant Attorney General Drew Cahill. 

###