In Fiscal Year 2021, the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) reports, nearly 85% of its restaurant investigations uncovered violations, resulting over $34 million in recovered wages, $3.2 million in penalties and the renewal of its initiative to enforce compliance in the foodservice industry.
The foodservice workers initiative spotlights the most common violations of federal labor laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the DOL states in the May 19 report, such as overtime pay, child labor, minimum wage, illegal wage deductions and tips. The initiative "will encourage employers and workers to learn more about the protections and assistance the Wage and Hour Division offers," the DOL states in the report.
“Wage and Hour Division investigations find far too many employers are denying employees their rightful wages or violating other legal protections," Jessica Looman, WHD acting administrator, said in the report, "making it much more difficult for these workers to make ends meet."
Looman also said the agency is also confronting employer retaliation against employees who report workplace abuses or participate in investigations, which she called "a troubling aspect of some of our investigations."
Recently published materials include information addressing retaliation, workers rights and protections, and how employers can avoid the "costly consequences of non-compliance" with federal law, the DOL reports.
“Food service industry workers are among our nation’s lowest paid essential workers," Looman said in the report, "and they depend on every dollar they earn to help provide for themselves and their families.”
