ANN ARBOR, MI — A Michigan restaurant recently agreed to a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve claims that the company failed to pay dozens of workers overtime pay in violation of federal labor and wage laws. As part of the resolution, Ann Arbor-based Min & Kim Inc. will pay a combined $112,212 in back wages to 27 employees to resolve alleged federal wage violations, including failure to pay overtime and maintain accurate payroll and time records.
As part of its investigation, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined Min & Kim Inc. paid cooks, sushi chefs, cooks’ helpers, servers, dishwashers, and busboys a flat amount of money per day, regardless of the number of hours they worked during the week. Sadly, this type of wage theft is extremely prevalent in the restaurant industry where workers live paycheck to paycheck while working long hours to support themselves and their families. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), companies must pay their workers one and a half times their average hourly rate of pay when working more than 40 hours per week.
“The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring employees receive the wages they have rightfully earned, and that employers compete on a level playing field,” said Wage and Hour District Director Timolin Mitchell, in Detroit. “Employers can avoid wage violations by contacting the Wage and Hour Division for assistance to ensure they are in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.”
While the federal government cannot intervene on behalf of every single wage theft victim in the country, the FLSA does give aggrieved workers the right to hire private attorneys to file unpaid overtime lawsuits to recover up to three years of back pay. Furthermore, the FLSA allows workers to recover liquidated damages equal to unpaid earnings, attorneys fees to cover the cost of litigating the claim, and even have courts impose injunctions on business to ensure compliance with the law and prevent future wage theft from happening.
Restaurant Worker Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
Call (855) 754-2795 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you believe that your wage rights are being violated under the FLSA. Our top-rated team of unpaid wage lawyers will evaluate your situation to determine your best course of action to help you seek justice.
Our office will also determine if it is in your best interest to file a lawsuit against your employer. Because strict time limitations apply for filing these types of claims, we advise you contact our experienced unpaid overtime wage attorneys at your earliest convenience and preserve your legal rights.