Department of Labor again finds La Mojarra Loca restaurants in Las Vegas shortchanged workers’ wages, recovers $151K for 33 workers denied overtime

Employer:      La Mojarra Loca Inc.

                        821 N. Lamb #14

Las Vegas, NV 89110

Investigation findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found three La Mojarra Loca restaurant locations in Las Vegas did not pay required overtime rates for hours over 40 in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer wrongly classified employees as exempt for overtime pay and paid them a flat salary regardless of how many hours they worked. 

Back Wages Recovered:       $75,729 in overtime wages for 33 employees

                                                $75,729 in liquidated damages for 33 employees

                                                $9,058 in civil money penalties for the reckless, repeated nature of the violations

Quote: “The operator of these La Mojarra Loca restaurants has continued to blatantly underpay and deprive employees of their hard-earned wages despite repeated investigations,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Gene Ramos in Las Vegas. “We are determined to do everything in our power under the law to stop the unacceptable practices of employers such as La Mojarra Loca.”

Background: The division’s investigations took place at three La Mojarra Loca restaurants in Las Vegas at 2797 S. Maryland Parkway, 821 N. Lamb Blvd. and 3210 E. Lake Mead Blvd. The infractions identified are similar to violations discovered at La Mojarra Loca restaurants in three investigations, one in 2019 and two in 2022 Those investigations recovered more than $450,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for affected employees, and more than $34,000 in penalties.

Workers can use the division’s Workers Owed Wages search tool to see if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division for help and assistance at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including the agency’s restaurants compliance assistance toolkit and an overview about the FLSA protections for restaurant workers. Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and IOS Timesheet App for free in English or Spanish.