888 Seafood Restaurant, a Chinese eatery in the San Gabriel Valley, has agreed to pay $306,500 in overtime back wages following a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigation that revealed pay improprieties. The funds will be shared by 57 employees who routinely put in additional work time after they clocked out, according to the DOL. The investigation found that the employees worked approximately 12 hours a day but were paid for their work in cash at the straight-time rate. Overtime hours weren’t reflected on time cards, and the restaurant failed to keep accurate records of hours worked.
As part of the settlement, the employer will also pay civil penalties of $35,000 for willful and repeat violations. In 2000, following another DOL investigation, the employer paid almost $5,000 in overtime back wages to five employees.
The HR Management & Compliance Report: How To Comply with California Wage & Hour Law, explains everything you need to know to stay in compliance with the state’s complex and ever-changing rules, laws, and regulations in this area. Coverage on bonuses, meal and rest breaks, overtime, alternative workweeks, final paychecks, and more.