Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

NEW YORK, NY -- San Pietro Restaurant, an Italian eatery located in Midtown Manhattan, has paid 45 employees a total of $102,216 in overtime back wages following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor into violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“Improperly paid employees of this restaurant included cooks, waiters and bus boys among others,” said Philip Jacobson, New York City district director for the department’s Wage and Hour Division. “Our investigation found that many of these employees were often required to work more than 40 hours a week without receiving overtime pay.”

The FLSA requires that employees be paid at least the applicable minimum wage and time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. It also requires employers to keep accurate records of employees’ wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

Jacobson noted that, although the restaurant did not maintain proper records of hours worked, Wage and Hour investigators determined that employees worked an average of 52 hours per week.

Once informed of the overtime violations, spanning the period from Nov. 15, 2001 to Nov. 14, 2003, management officials of San Pietro Restaurant agreed to pay employees the back wages they were due and to come into full compliance with the FLSA in the future.

The investigation was conducted by the New York City District Office of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. Information on the requirements of the FLSA may be obtained by calling the department’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

###

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.