The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $124,670 in back wages and damages for 84 workers at Swahili Village Bar and Grill in Newark, New Jersey. The Wage and Hour Division's investigation revealed that the restaurant failed to pay overtime to servers, cooks, and bussers who worked more than 40 hours per week, violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The recovery includes $62,335 in overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for the affected employees. Additionally, the department assessed $44,100 in civil money penalties for willful violations.
“Restaurant industry workers too often fall victim to employers who shortchange their wages and deprive them of their hard-earned wages,” said Wage and Hour District Director Paula Ruffin in Mountainside, New Jersey. “When the pay practices of employers like Swahili Village Bar and Grill violate federal law, we will hold them accountable and do all we can to recover the wages owed to employees.”
Workers can check if they are owed back wages using the division’s Workers Owed Wages search tool. Employers and workers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-4-US-WAGE for assistance. More information about compliance assistance tools for restaurants and FLSA protections is available on the department's website. The department also offers a free Timesheet App in English or Spanish for accurate tracking of work hours.
