Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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CHICAGO -- Representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will be visiting Chicago-area restaurants to help employers comply with federal minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Last year, the department found 55 Chicago-area restaurants in violation of federal minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping, or child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The 55 restaurants were among 90 suburban restaurants randomly selected for investigations that resulted in payment of $419,385 in back wages to 459 employees. More than two-thirds of the violations involved nonpayment of overtime pay.

"These contacts are part of the Department of Labor's ongoing efforts to equip employers with the knowledge they need in order to comply with the law," said Chicago Wage and Hour District Director Dennis McInerney. "We have been actively promoting FLSA compliance in the restaurant industry in suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Kendall counties."

Among the more significant cases was the investigation of Sandpiper Restaurant in Woodridge, Ill., which disclosed 12 kitchen employees who received cash salaries without overtime pay although they worked as many as 54 hours per week. Record-keeping violations were also found with respect to cooks, busboys and dishwashers. The employer agreed to pay back wages of $35,198 to the workers and to comply with the law.

In addition to underpayment of wages, the department also examined compliance with federal child labor laws. Nine restaurants found in violation of the child labor standards agreed to pay fines totaling $30,780. Sam's Restaurant & Pizzeria of Chicago Heights, Ill., paid a fine of $8,000 for violations involving some 15-and 16-year-old employees who worked more than the allowable hours, or worked in prohibited occupations such as cooking, or operated prohibited equipment such as meat slicers.

Representatives of the Wage and Hour Division will explain the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal law that establishes a minimum wage of $5.15, time and one-half pay for most employees who work more than 40 hours per week, sets hour and occupation restrictions for minors under 18 years of age, and requires employers to maintain payroll records.

For further information about the requirements of the FLSA, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or contact the Chicago District Office at (312) 596-7230. Information is also available on the Internet at www.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.