The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $500,256 in back wages for six deli workers who were not paid the local minimum wage for regular hours or overtime premiums for hours worked over 40 per workweek.
The department’s Wage and Hour Division investigated Chau Deli, operating as A Chau Sandwich, and determined that the employer paid workers a flat rate of $100 per day despite often working 11-hour days, averaging 55 hours each week. The investigation found that the regular rate of pay for these workers was less than the local minimum wage.
The division also found that workers were not paid overtime premiums for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime requirements. As a result of the investigation, each worker was paid approximately $83,000 in back wages.
“The Wage and Hour Division remains committed to upholding federal labor law protections for workers supporting themselves and their families,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Andrew Rogers. “The division stands ready to assist employers with understanding and complying with the laws we enforce.”