NASHVILLE, TN — A Nashville, Tennessee-restaurant recently agreed to a settlement with the Department of Labor to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of workers and resolve claims that the company engaged in rampant wage theft against employees. Under the terms of the settlement, Casa Vieja, Inc., and its owners will pay $751,682 in back wages and liquidated damages to 45 employees and settle the unpaid overtime lawsuit with federal investigators.
An investigation by the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division found that the defendants violated several provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) including failure to keep accurate records documenting all the hours worked by employees. As a result, dozens of workers did not receive all their due wages, including minimum wage and overtime hours, which added up to a substantial sum of money.
“Employees should receive the wages they earn for the hours they work,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nettie Lewis. “The outcome of this case serves as a reminder to all employers to review their pay practices to confirm that workers are being paid as the law prescribes. We will continue to work to level the playing field for employers who play by the rules.”
Federal Overtime Pay Laws
Under the FLSA, employers must pay workers at least $7.25 per hour on the job. Additionally, the FLSA establishes a 40-hour overtime threshold during the workweek. Employers must pay employees one and a half times the individual’s average hourly rate of pay when working more than 40 hours per week.
Unfortunately, some employers try to under pay their workers to keep payroll costs as low as possible at the expense of workers trying to earn a living and provide for their families. To help protect workers, the FLSA gives employees the right to file unpaid overtime lawsuits to recover their unpaid earnings and hold companies responsible for the wage theft that costs workers billions of dollars every year.
Restaurant Worker Unpaid Overtime Lawsuit
Call (855) 754-27955 or complete the Free Unpaid Overtime Case Review form on the top right of this page if you feel 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.