New Jersey employers face significant financial exposure for misclassifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees. The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) recently reached a settlement with STG Logistics Inc., STG Drayage LLC and other subsidiaries (STG), requiring STG to pay at least $2.775 million to resolve claims that it misclassified truck drivers as independent contractors in violation of the state’s wage and hour laws. This settlement follows a lawsuit the NJDOL filed in New Jersey Superior Court, pursuant to a 2021 law that authorizes the state to file suit against employers for employee misclassification.
Under the settlement, $2.22 million will go directly to the misclassified truck drivers, while the remaining $555,000 will go to the state of New Jersey. In the event STG fails to comply with the terms of the settlement agreement, it will owe an additional $7.5 million in penalties to the state.