Three Houston companies have agreed to pay more than $205,000 in back minimum
wage and overtime pay after an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of
the U.S. Department of Labor (WHD) found about 297 current and former employees
were underpaid. For a Limited Time receive a
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the federal minimum wage and overtime as required by the Fair Labor Standards
Act (FLSA). The restaurants' tipped wait staff and bussers were docked for required
uniforms that brought their wages below the minimum wage. They were also paid
straight time for overtime hours. The investigations found 179 current and former
employees due $105,000 in back wages.
Variedades El Salvador and Variedades Bakery and Restaurant charged restaurant
employees for required uniforms, resulting in minimum wage violations for employees
earning minimum wage, including tipped employees, and failed to pay time-and
one-half for overtime hours, according to the department. Back wages of $81,000
were computed for 128 current and former employees.
Ayala's Quality Food Products Inc., doing business in Houston as Ayala's Tortilla
Factory, paid eight employees a salary for all hours worked, without ensuring
that the salary covered the minimum wage for all hours worked. The company also
failed to pay additional half time for the overtime hours worked. These employees
were found due $19,000.
The FLSA requires employees to be paid the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour for
all hours worked. Employers may consider tips as part of an employee's wages
but must pay at least $2.13 an hour in direct wages. If an employer counts tips
toward meeting the minimum wage obligation, employees must generally be allowed
to retain their tips. An employer cannot require employees to purchase uniforms
if the cost reduces their hourly rate below the minimum wage (or below $2.13
per hour in direct wages). Also under the FLSA, covered employees should receive
time and one-half their regular rate of pay when they work more than 40 hours
in a workweek.
The investigations resulted from .Justice and Equality in the Workplace Program
(JEWP) referrals. The Houston JEWP seeks to educate Hispanic employers about
their responsibilities and employees about their rights in the workplace. Wage
and Hour's Houston office and its partners disseminate information, provide
compliance assistance and conduct investigations to enforce federal labor laws.