New York Steakhouse Owes $3.8 Million to Workers Fired in Strike

A New York steakhouse must pay $3.8 million in back pay to workers who were illegally fired after going out on strike a decade ago, the National Labor Relations Board ruled.

The NLRB’s Friday ruling involving Sparks Restaurant shows how an employer’s labor law violations can become expensive with the passage of time, even though the board only issues make-whole relief rather than fines and penalties.

The board ruled against Sparks Restaurant in 2018. The restaurant lost its appeal in federal circuit court in 2019.

An administrative law judge recommended the backpay award in a decision, after conducting extensive compliance ...