A Sports bar and grill called Wheezy’s, owned and operated by three sisters, are facing federal investigation due to their pay practices. The investigation has found that they have been purposely denying overtime wages to their employees. Instead of paying them the required time and a half for hours worked beyond 40 a week, they paid straight-time rates in cash.
Furthermore, the employer failed to maintain proper records of employees, hours, and payments. As a result, the DOL’s wage and hour division has stepped in, recovering $114k in back wages and damages for 86 affected workers. Tres Sisters LLC was also penalized $14k for the willful nature of the violations.
This case reminds us of the importance of following federal regulations such as the FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act), which mandates overtime pay for eligible employees. Employers must pay for time and a half hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. The DOL protects workers’ rights, and employers who violate these laws can face significant financial consequences.
In 2022, the division recovered over $27 million in back wages for more than 22,500 people in the food service industry.