A North Syracuse gas station and convenience store and a Jamesville pizzeria and convenience store and their owner have been ordered to pay more than $120,000 to 12 employees for failing to pay them overtime, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Employees often worked work 50 and 60 hours a week without being properly compensated, the labor department said in a news release Wednesday.
The businesses covered up the wage theft by paying employees by cash and check, falsifying time cards and forcing employees to sign inaccurate time cards, officials said. Employees who worked at both locations often received separate checks, they said.
The department took action against Liberty Gas Station and Convenience Store LLC on in North Syracuse, Liberty Pizza & Convenience Inc. in Jamesville, and Huseyin Turan.
After the investigation began Turan and the businesses destroyed timecards, officials said.
The companies and Turan were ordered to pay $56,364 in back wages and $56,364 in damages.
Liberty Gas Station and Turan also agreed to pay $7,272 in civil money penalties assessed by the department.
Editor’s note: Liberty Gas Station and Convenience Store in North Syracuse is now owned and operated by a different company, M&H Syracuse Inc.
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961 or rkirk@syracuse.com.