The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the discovery of penalties for Fred Flounder Inc. and the recovery of unpaid wages for 10 workers.
According to a July 25 DOL news release, the Gulf Breeze, Fla., restaurant's violations incuded various pay practice and child labor violations like failing to pay sushi chefs their earned overtime wages as well as allowing 15-year-old workers to work more than the maximum hours allowed by law.
“Employers must ensure that federal labor law is correctly applied and that workers are not shortchanged as the result of a misapplication of the law," Wage and Hour Division District Director Wildali De Jesus said in the release. "Any employer who employs minors absolutely must take the time to review the requirements and restrictions regarding youth employment or face the possibility of costly penalties."
The department discovered Fred Flounder Inc., operating as Flounder's Chowder House, additionally violated the Fair Labor Standard's Act by not retaining an accurate log record of hours worked by sushi chefs, the release reported. Additionally, the company failed to provide workers with information on their rights.
"The violations found in this investigation and the penalties they carry could have been avoided," De Jesus said in the release. "We encourage employers and workers to contact the Wage and Hour Division with their questions about federal employment laws.”
According to the release, the investigation led to $26,776 in back wages recovered for 10 chefs and $5,138 in civil money penalties to Founder's Chowder House for child labor violations.
