The U.S. Department of Labor has secured $17,311 in back wages for nine employees at a Rowland Heights restaurant, Ma’s Kitchen, operated by Naya Ding Inc. The department's Wage and Hour Division found that the restaurant violated federal wage laws by improperly managing tip pools and failing to pay overtime wages. Supervisors were instructed to distribute only part of the tips to servers, while the owners kept a portion for themselves. Additionally, some employees did not receive the correct overtime pay rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a week.
The investigation also revealed that Ma’s Kitchen did not maintain accurate records of time worked and tips received, which are violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As a result of these willful violations, the employer faces a civil money penalty of $2,985.
Rafael Valles, Assistant District Director for the Wage and Hour Division in West Covina, California, said: "Burdening employees with business expenses takes hard-earned wages out of workers’ pockets." He emphasized the department's commitment to ensuring compliance with federal law regarding workers' wages.
Employers and workers can reach out to the Wage and Hour Division for assistance via their toll-free number or learn more about compliance through various resources offered by the division. The agency provides industry-specific toolkits and a PAID program allowing employers to self-report potential wage violations. Additionally, both employers and employees can track work hours using a free timesheet app available on iOS and Android devices.
For further information on overtime requirements under FLSA, visit [this link](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/23-flsa-overtime).
