Press Release  Westfield Restaurant to Provide Back Pay to Nearly 150 Workers Over State Wage and Hour Violations

Boston — A Westfield restaurant chain and its owner will pay $144,802 in restitution and penalties, including back pay for 147 workers, for violating Massachusetts wage and hour laws, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Afterburner Inc., Chicowings Inc., Hangar of Greenfield Inc. Enterprise, and Hangar of Westfield Inc. Enterprise d/b/a Wings Over and its owner Harold Tramazzo were cited by the AG’s Office for failing to pay wages in a timely manner.

“Our laws ensure that every employee in Massachusetts is paid fairly,” said AG Healey. “We are pleased that this business has agreed to pay workers the wages they are owed.” 

The AG’s Office began its investigation after receiving complaints alleging wage violations for delivery drivers employed by Wings Over locations. Through the course of the investigation, the AG’s Office discovered delivery drivers were not reimbursed for mileage expenses even though they were required to make deliveries using their own vehicles. The investigation found that drivers were underpaid up to $8,700 for mileage expenses.

Wings Over has come into compliance with the law and cooperated with the AG’s investigation, which will result in workers receiving restitution averaging $844.  

Under Massachusetts wage and hour laws, most workers must be paid all wages owed within six days after the end of a pay period. Deductions from wages, either direct or indirect, are limited by statute and case law. Requiring employees to drive their own vehicles and failing to reimburse them for mileage expenses, which is considered an indirect deduction, is not permissible under the law.

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

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney Amy Goyer and Investigator Christina Proietti, both of the AG’s Fair Labor Division.  

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