U.S. Department of Labor Recovers $100,326 for 26 Georgia Restaurant Employees After Investigation Finds Overtime Violations

JACKSON, GA – Buckner's Family Restaurant LLC – a family restaurant based in Jackson, Georgia – has paid $100,326 in back wages and liquidated damages to 26 employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD determined Buckner's Family Restaurant LLC paid employees straight-time rates for all the hours that they worked, without regard to whether they worked more than 40 hours in a work week. This practice resulted in violations when employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek without being paid overtime, as the law requires. The restaurant also failed to maintain accurate records as required by the FLSA.

"Employers need to ensure that they pay employees all the wages they have legally earned," said Wage and Hour District Director Eric Williams, in Atlanta, Georgia. "We encourage all employers to make use of the resources we provide to help them understand their responsibilities under the law. Violations like those found in this case can quickly become costly, and can be avoided."

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program. Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd.