WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) said it recovered over $200,000 in back wages and damages from a Williamsburg restaurant owner after denying 62 employees overtime pay.
The FFT Restaurant Group LLC will also have to pay a $50,000 penalty fine for willful violation of laws, according to the department.
According to the DOL, the recovery comes after investigators found that the company, which operates Food for Thought restaurant, and owner Howard Hopkins paid kitchen staff straight-time rates for all their hours, including more than 40 in a workweek.
The DOL said employers didn't keep accurate records of employees' hours worked and didn't display federal minimum wage posters as required. These actions violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
"Our investigation found that the employer did not pay some employees their hard-earned overtime pay, which is unacceptable,” wrote Wage and Hour Division District Director Roberto Melendez, who is based in Richmond.
“Many restaurant workers struggle to make ends meet and they deserve to be paid for all hours worked. Employers who shortchange their employees will be held accountable.”
Food for Thought is a full-service restaurant located at 1647 Richmond Road in Williamsburg.