US Department of Labor recovers $180K in wages, damages for 22 workers denied overtime pay by Sacramento restaurant employer

Employer:      Taqueria Los Inmortales 

                        3131 Fruitridge Road

Sacramento, CA 95820                                                                                                     

Investigation findings: An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found the employer, operating three Taqueria Los Inmortales restaurants in Sacramento under three different corporations, did not pay employees required overtime wages for the hours they worked beyond 40 per week, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The employer paid overtime hours at regular hourly rates in cash and failed to maintain accurate records. 

Back Wages and Liquidated Damages Recovered: $90,383 in unpaid overtime for 22 employees and an equal amount in liquidated damages.

Civil Money Penalties Assessed:   $7,980 in civil money penalties for the willful violations.

Quote: “Restaurant workers, who are often some of the lowest earners in our communities, deserve to take home every dollar they earn,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Cesar Avila in Sacramento. “The U.S. Department of Labor is determined to help restaurant employers and workers understand their obligations and rights under the law. We offer free compliance assistance toolkits and other resources that can help them avoid costly violations like those found in this case.”

Context: Workers can use the division’s Workers Owed Wages search tool to see if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division for help at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including the agency’s restaurant compliance assistance toolkit and an overview of FLSA protections for restaurant workers. Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and iOS Timesheet App for free in English or Spanish.

This news release is also available in Spanish.