CORRECTED: US Department of Labor finds San Angelo restaurant underpaid workers; exposed minors to hazardous, prohibited occupations

Employer name:                    Maw’s CPS SA LLC

                                                         (Operating as Charley’s Philly Steaks)

Investigation site:                  4001 Sunset Blvd.

                                                          San Angelo, TX 76904

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found Maw’s CPS SA LLC – operating as Charley’s Philly Steaks in San Angelo, Texas – did not pay overtime to three employees, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer instructed the workers to clock out after the regular closing time, but made them stay to continue working. Charley’s Philly Steaks also violated child labor standards by allowing five minors to work more than the number of hours, and past specific times federal law allows. Investigators also found the employer in violation of child labor prohibited occupations when it regularly allowed one minor to use a deep fryer.

Back wages recovered:         $3,184 in overtime back wages

                                                           $3,184 in liquidated damages

                                                           $3,786 in assessed civil money penalties                                                                                             

Quote: “This young workforce is providing high demand services to all of us. The federal child labor laws were enacted to ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities,” said Wage and Hour District Director Nicole Sellers in Austin. “Violating a worker’s right to get paid what they earned and putting minors in danger is not only illegal, it leaves a negative impression of the workforce on our youth in our community. This is most critical in a period when employers struggle to find a much-needed workforce.”

Editor’s note: The earlier release identified the employer’s business in Austin when, in fact, it is located in San Angelo. In addition, the word “young” was removed from the headline as the underpaid workers were adults.