March 22, 2013 By Christian Murray
A Sunnyside nail salon has entered into an agreement with the New York State Attorney General’s office after being found to be ripping off one of its workers.
Bliss Nail Salon, located at 45-05 Queens Blvd, has agreed to pay $5,000 to a manicurist who was told that she would have to pay a deposit to work there and that, because she was a “trainee,” was not entitled to minimum wage and overtime.
Bliss Nail Salon’s manicurist, a Nepali immigrant who spoke limited English, was required to work as a “trainee” for three months, from March through May of 2012, during which time she was initially given only small amounts of money for food and then, about half way through her three months at the salon, was paid $30 for what was often a 10-hour work day.
“All New York businesses must pay legally-required wages to employees and respect their workers’ basic rights,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.
“The state grants a license to salon owners in order for them to operate and they, like all business owners, must take the appropriate steps to follow our state’s labor laws.”
The owner of Bliss Nail Salon was not available for comment. He is in Vietnam and won’t be returning to New York until after Easter, according to a worker.
