Company Paying Only Tips And Room And Board Violates Minimum Wage And Overtime Laws

The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has found that Wei’s Hibachi Buffet, LLC violated the overtime, minimum wage, and record keeping violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”).  Hibachi Buffet did not pay servers a base hourly wage but instead forced them to work only for tips and room and board.  Hibachi Buffet also failed to pay kitchen employees time and a half overtime wages for hours worked over 40 in a work week, as is required under the FLSA.  The department also found that Hibachi Buffet did not maintain records for all hours that its employees worked.  Hibachi Buffet has agreed to comply with the standards of the FLSA and to pay almost $100,000 in back wages and liquidated damages among twelve employees. See www.dol.gov/opa/ media/press/whd/WHD20151802.htm