Taqueria La Herradura in Pharr, Texas, pays over $33K in back wages, damages to kitchen staff after US Department of Labor investigation

Employer: Taqueria La Herradura LLC

Site: 6613 S. Jackson Rd., Pharr, Texas

Investigation Findings: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division investigators found that Taqueria La Herradura LLC violated the minimum wage, overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The investigation revealed that the firm paid varying wages, all below the federal required minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, to 21 kitchen workers and failed to pay time-and-a-half when these employees worked beyond 40 hours in a workweek. Additionally, the employer failed to keep accurate records for all of its employees.

Resolution: Taqueria La Herradura has paid more than $33,000 in minimum wage and overtime back wages and liquidated damages, and agrees to comply with the FLSA.

Quote: “Restaurant industry employees are some of the most vulnerable workers we see. Many have limited English proficiency and, for a variety of reasons, may be unlikely to step forward to complain when they are cheated out of legally earned wages,” said Betty Campbell, regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division in the Southwest. “Employers need to know that failing to play by the rules can be a costly decision. There should be no doubt that the Wage and Hour Division will use any and all tools available to remedy violations, and to make sure that working people in the U.S. are paid the wages they have rightfully earned.”

Information: The FLSA requires that covered, non-exempt employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for all hours worked, plus time and one-half their regular rates, including commissions, bonuses and incentive pay for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Employers also must maintain accurate time and payroll records, and are prohibited from retaliating against workers who exercise their rights under the law. For more information about the FLSA, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information also is available at http://www.dol.gov/whd/.

• Read this news release in Spanish.