Massage Spa Workers Win $205,000 Settlement in Wage Dispute

In a victory for labor rights, massage spa employees in Yonkers secured a $205,000 settlement after a legal battle over unpaid overtime wages.

Yong Biao Ji of Flushing, Queens, brought the lawsuit alleging violations of wage laws. He took legal action on behalf of himself and 17 other current and former employees of “Foot Relax Spa.” Owners Ke Xue Zhang and Xiang Man Zhang operate businesses located in Yonkers and Parsippany, New Jersey.

Poor working conditions

According to court documents , Ji and his colleagues endured grueling work conditions. This included long hours, minimal breaks, and a lack of overtime compensation.

During his tenure spanning 21 months from 2016 to 2019, Ji detailed his experiences. Primarily, that he worked six days a week for 13 to 14 hours a day. Despite the arduous workload, he received only $12 to $13 per hour in cash payments. The owners did not dole out any additional compensation for overtime hours worked beyond the standard 40-hour workweek.

Furthermore, Ji highlighted the coercive environment at the spa where employees were allegedly subjected to on-call duties, menial tasks, and restricted freedom during work hours.

The “no show” settlement

The spas owners’ denied the allegations in their motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit. They even filed counterclaims against Ji; accusing him of fraud. However, U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti dismissed those counterclaims on Oct. 13.

And when the owners failed to appear at any subsequent hearings, the court simply ruled in favor of the workers. Therefore, the attorney for Yong Biao Ji saw his request for a summary judgement approved. So, on Feb. 22, Judge Briccetti awarded the petitioners with $205,450 judgement. This hefty sum includes compensatory damages, accrued interest, and attorney fees.

The case highlights the pervasive issue of wage theft and exploitation in the service industry, particularly within vulnerable communities.