US Department of Labor Recovers $88K in Back Wages and Damages for 127 Workers at 13 Vicari Restaurant Group Detroit-Area Locations.

Vicari Restaurant Group was Assessed a $791 penalty for employing a 15-year-old in violation of child labor hours.

DETROIT, MI (STL.News) The operator of 20 Detroit-area restaurants, Vicari Restaurant Group, has paid $88,020 in back wages and damages to 127 employees after a US Department of Labor investigation found the employer denied workers at 13 locations their full wages and allowed a minor-aged employee to work longer and later than legally permitted.

Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division determined the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s minimum wage and overtime provisions when they paid:

Direct cash wages to non-tipped employees that were less than the required minimum wage.

An overtime rate to tipped employees based on their cash wage rather than minimum wage, which led to overtime violations.

Straight-time rates in cash for kitchen employees who worked overtime hours.

The division also learned the employer did the following:

• Failed to keep accurate pay records for employees paid in cash.
• Allowed one 15-year-old to work past 9 p.m. and more than 8 hours in a day in violation of child labor hours standards.
• Deducted the cost of required uniforms from tipped employees, resulting in minimum wage violations.

The department assessed $791 in penalties for child labor violations.

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