U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in South Carolina Restaurant Paying $92,670 to 9 Employees for Wage Violations

SIMPSONVILLE, SC – LCV Jalisco Inc. – a restaurant based in Simpsonville, South Carolina – has paid $92,670 in back wages to nine employees after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the employer violated the minimum wage, overtime, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD determined LCV Jalisco Inc. – operating as El Jalisco Mexican Restaurant – violated the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the FLSA when it failed to pay any wages to two servers, instead employing them to work only for tips. WHD also found the restaurant violated the overtime provisions of the FLSA when it failed to pay other employees time-and-a-half for any hours they worked over 40 in a workweek. In addition, LCV Jalisco Inc. failed to maintain accurate records of the number of hours employees worked, and failed to display an FLSA poster at the establishment.

"Employers must pay their employees for all the hours they have worked. Our efforts ensure that payments not only benefit the workers, but also help to level the playing field for employers who play by the rules," said Wage and Hour District Director Jamie Benefiel, in Columbia, South Carolina. "We encourage all employers and employees to make use of the resources we provide to help them understand their responsibilities and rights under the law. Trained Wage and Hour professionals are available to provide confidential assistance to anyone who has questions."

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.