Department of Labor seeks $205,000 in back wages and damages from Williamsburg restaurant owner who denied overtime pay to 62 employees

Summary:

The US Department of Labor has obtained a consent decree in a federal court in Virginia to collect $205,180 in unpaid wages and damages from FFT Restaurant Group, LLC, the operator of Food for Thought restaurant in Williamsburg. The investigation found that the restaurant failed to pay overtime to 62 employees, paying them the same rate for all hours worked, including hours worked over 40 in a week. The employer also failed to maintain accurate records of employee hours and did not display the required federal minimum wage posters. This is in violation of fair labor standards. The department has recovered $102,590 in unpaid wages and an equal amount in damages, as well as $50,034 in penalties for the intentional nature of the violations. The court order prohibits future violations of fair labor standards.