Department also seeking more than $119K in back wages and liquidated damages
CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a complaint and has asked a federal court to issue a temporary restraining order against a Huntley restaurant and its owners for retaliating and intimidating workers illegally during an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division.
Division investigators found that the employer – Papa G’s restaurant and owners Steve and Rick Tsakalios – told workers they did not have to speak with the investigators, questioned those who had about their discussions with investigators and created a chilling effect on worker cooperation.
Filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the action asks the court to prevent the restaurant and the owners from interfering with a federal investigation into the employers’ pay practices. The department is also seeking to have Papa G’s pay $59,904 in back wages, and an equal amount of liquidated damages to employees.
“Threatening or intimidating employees to prevent their cooperation with U.S. Department of Labor investigators is illegal,” stated Regional Solicitor of Labor Christine Heri in Chicago. “Doing so discourages workers from asserting their rights and interferes with effective enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act.”
“Our request for a temporary restraining order in this matter shows the department will do everything in its power to protect workers’ rights,” Heri added.
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