News Brief
US Labor Department recovers $8,149 in back wages, liquidated damages for 2 workers terminated by Tucker Brewing Co. after asking about pay practices
Employer: Tucker Brewing Co. LLC
Investigation site: 2003 S. Bibb Drive
Tucker, GA 30084
Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer retaliated illegally against two employees after each of them emailed the Tucker Brewing Co.’s owner and asked about their earnings and the employer’s tip-sharing requirements. The employer responded by terminating both workers’ employment despite neither having a history of disciplinary action. The written inquiry to company ownership about pay practices is a protected activity under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Back Wages and Liquidated Damages Recovered: The division recovered $8,149, in back wages and liquidated damages for the two workers after determining the termination violated federal law.
Quote: “The U.S. Department of Labor enforces federal laws that protect workers’ rights. In this case, two workers were well within their rights to ask about how they were being paid, especially when they believed the employer’s pay practices were unfair or incorrect,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Steven Salazar in Atlanta. “Employers should review their pay and other employment practices to avoid legal and financial headaches. Listening to employees concerns about workplace compliance can be good for the business and all the company’s workers.”
Background: Tucker Brewing Co. LLC operates a brewery, restaurant and tasting room and has approximately 40 employees.
The Wage and Hour Division provides multiple tools to help employers understand their responsibilities and offers confidential compliance assistance to anyone with questions about how to comply with the law. Workers can call the division confidentially with questions – regardless of their immigration status – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. Help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android Timesheet App for free.
