A jury in a federal court found a Pennsylvania restaurant and its owner intentionally shortchanged 15 workers of more than $214,000 in wages.
The decision confirmed a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation that found the servers, dishwashers, bussers and cooks were shortchanged from April 2014 to July 2017, according to a Nov. 2 news release.
“Wage theft is a serious issue that causes great harm to low-wage workers, and the Wage and Hour Division is determined to protect workers’ rights and hold employers accountable,” Wage and Hour District Director in Pittsburgh John DuMont said, according to the release.
Picante LLC, its successor Picante Grille LLC and its owner Helius Mucino, reportedly failed to pay wages to servers, who were solely compensated through tips. The other employees were not paid overtime when required. After the Wage and Hour Division uncovered the illegal pay practices, the employers failed to pay the required overtime to some employees for another two years, the release said.
Employers are legally obligated to pay workers rightfully earned wages and benefits. Failure to do so harms the workers and their families, DuMont said, the release reported.
Regional Solicitor Oscar L. Hampton III, in Philadelphia, whose office litigated the case, said his office supported the Wage and Hour Division when the employers resisted turning recovers over to the agency, according to the release.
