Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SEATTLE -- The U.S. Labor Department announced that Rainbow Buffet Inc. of Tacoma, Wash., has been ordered to pay $51,923 in back wages to 40 low-wage restaurant workers for violations of the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

According to Donna Hart, district director of the department's Wage and Hour Division Seattle District Office, an investigation determined the company violated federal laws by paying salaries without regard to daily and weekly hours worked and the law’s minimum wage and overtime requirements. The company also violated federal regulations by failing to include all employees on the payroll and to keep records of the hours they worked. The department’s investigation covered the period from Dec. 3, 2004, until Aug. 16, 2005.

The $51,923 ordered to be paid by the owners will be paid as back wages to the workers they unlawfully employed in their restaurant.

The Wage and Hour Division recovered over $166 million in back wages in fiscal year (FY) 2005 for more than 241,000 workers. Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2005 from 92 days to 85 days. For more information about the FLSA, call the Seattle Wage and Hour Office at 206-398-8039 or the department’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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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.