U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Indiana Restaurant Paying $45,828 in Back Wages

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Sixteen employees of The Journey restaurant – based in Indianapolis, Indiana – will receive $45,828 in back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) that disclosed overtime and recordkeeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators determined the “back of the house” employees at The Journey restaurant worked an average of 63 hours per week for flat salaries without regard to the number of hours they had worked. This practice resulted in overtime violations when these employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek and the employer failed to pay overtime. The employer’s failure to record the number of hours employees worked also resulted in recordkeeping violations.

The employees worked as line cooks, dishwashers, and in food preparation.

“This investigation represents the U.S. Department of Labor’s commitment to ensuring employees receive all the wages they have rightfully earned, and that employers compete on a level playing field,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Patricia Lewis in Indianapolis. “Employers can avoid wage violations by contacting us for assistance to ensure they are in compliance with the law.”

Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program. For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Division, contact the Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD.