MANCHESTER, N.H. — Four New Hampshire catering and cafe businesses will pay back wages to resolve charges by the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of overtime, minimum wage and Fair Labor Standards record keeping violations, according to the federal agency.
The WHD says its investigation of Tidewater Catering Group LLC, Bayona Café LLC, Waterworks Café LLC and Unity Café LLC found employees were paid "straight time" with cash and "off the books" for overtime and did not pay the federal minimum wage to an employee. The businesses also did not keep accurate employee overtime and hourly records, and incorrectly classified an employee who was not exempt from overtime rules, the WHD said.
"Ensuring that employees receive the wages they are due under the law guarantees that all employers compete on a fair and level playing field," WHD Manchester district director Daniel Cronin said in a statement. "We encourage all employers to reach out to us for assistance. Violations like these can be avoided."
The employers paid $86,959 in back wages and liquidated damages and have been fined more than $22,000 in civil penalties, according to the WHD.