Stop Work Orders

If your business was issued a Stop Work Order, our attorneys at Howell, Buchan & Strong are here to help. Your business may have:

• Failed to secure workers’ compensation insurance coverage
• Understated or concealed payroll
• Misrepresented employee duties
• Otherwise avoided paying correct or accurate workers’ compensation premium

Our Goal is to Get Your Stop Work Order Released as Soon as Possible

Once a Stop Work Order is issued, all business operations for your business must cease in the State of Florida. Conducting any business in violation of the Stop Work Order will result in criminal punishment of a third-degree felony, and a fine of $1,000.00 each day working in violation of the Stop Work Order. 

Common Reasons for Receiving a Stop Work Order

When you are in noncompliance with the terms of your professional license or other complaints are filed against you, a Stop Work Order may be issued. Other common reasons Stop Work Orders are issued include:

• Hazardous workplace
• Lack of worker’s compensation coverage
• Out-of-state Employer not following regulations
• Failure to comply with investigators

How Our Legal Team Helps with Stop Work Orders

Obtaining a Release

Our Firm will advise you on how to get your Stop Work Order released and let your business continue operating. We advise businesses on becoming compliant with the workers’ compensation law by obtaining proper insurance. Additionally, to obtain a release, you must make a minimum down payment of $1,000.00 towards your final penalty. 

Once you make the minimum payment towards your final penalty, we will assist you in obtaining an Agreed Order of Conditional Release by providing your compliance documentation. 

What happens if I fail to pay the penalty?

To obtain a release, the Department of Financial Services requires that your business enter into a payment plan or pay the penalty in full within 28 days. Otherwise, the Department will reinstate the Stop Work Order. The reinstatement of the Stop Work Order means that your business will remain closed. It is our primary goal to help you keep your business open. 

Additionally, unpaid penalties can constitute liens against the employer and the employer’s property or interests. A notice of the lien may be recorded in the public records of the county where the property is located. Not paying a penalty can result in substantial harm to your business.

How is My Penalty Calculated?

The law requires you to provide the Department of Financial Services with business records so the Department can calculate a penalty. The penalty is calculated based on multiple factors, such as who you paid, when your payments were made and for what purposes, and how much such payments were. In other words, the Department will examine your payroll, calculate an average weekly wage based on state standards, and quantify a penalty. 

Can I Get My Penalty Reduced?

There are ways to have your penalty reduced. For first-time offenders, our Firm can negotiate with the State to try and reduce the penalty amount. We will provide the Department of Financial Services with the proper documentation within the deadline to facilitate this process. Additionally, timely submission of proper, complete business records to the Department of Financial Services will reduce your penalty by 25%, regardless of whether this is your first offense or not.

At Howell, Buchan & Strong Attorneys at Law, we exhaust all avenues to help you keep your business open, obtain a release from your Stop Work Order, and reduce your penalty.