CHICAGO – While Sarpino’s Pizzeria locations in Chicago promise quick delivery when customers call, the business’ operator was much less responsive when U.S. Department of Labor investigators chose to review the employer’s pay practices.
In fact, investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division needed a subpoena to obtain employees’ pay records and it soon became clear why the owner refused to cooperate.
The division ultimately determined the employer owed a total of $188,628 – representing $94,314 in overtime back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages – to 104 employees at three Sarpinos’ locations in Chicago owned by Julius Jokimas.
Investigators found the three Sarpinos’ locations misclassified delivery drivers as independent contractors and, by doing so, failed to pay them overtime at time-and-one-half their average hourly wage when they worked more than 40 hours per week. The pizzerias also shortchanged some managers and cooks by denying them overtime wages they had earned. In addition, investigators found the employer failed to maintain accurate payroll records.
As a result of its investigations, the division recovered back wages as follows:
Sarpinos’ South Loop, S. Archer Avenue, owed 27 workers, $43,890 in back wages
Sarpinos’ W. Division Street, owed 33 workers, $23,791 in back wages
Sarpinos’ Loop, W. Lake Street, owed 44 workers, $26,633
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