Recently a federal court in Atlanta determined that an international company operating a popular Atlanta restaurant violated numerous provisions of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA). According to reports, the company must pay nearly $50,000 in back wages and damages for violating minimum wage and overtime provisions.
The FLSA is a federal regulation that sets forth numerous wage and hour provisions. These include laws requiring workers earn at least minimum wage. The FLSA also provides that non-exempt workers are entitled to earn over-time pay at a rate of one and one-half their standard rate of pay for all time worked in excess of 40 hours in any one work week.
The Department of Labor (DOL) investigation determined that the restaurant violated these provisions in a number of ways. First, the establishment required tipped employees arrive to work and perform prep work without paying for this time. As a result of not logging in this time, the employees’ effective pay rate fell below minimum wage. Further, because the time was not recorded, they were not paid all the overtime compensation they were entitled to. The investigation also revealed several record-keeping errors in violation of federal law. A representative from the DOL noted, “Employers are obligated to pay employees the wages they have legally earned.”
Federal wage and hour laws may be complex and are frequently updated. As dedicated Atlanta FLSA attorneys, we are committed to ensuring workers understand their rights and receive all the wages they are rightfully entitled to. If you have any questions or concerns about your paycheck or wages, please contact to experience Georgia wage and hour lawyers for a confidential case evaluation.