GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The U.S. Department of Labor says it has recovered $105,000 in back wages and damages after the owner of the now-closed Saucy Crab restaurant withheld tips from 28 employees.
As part of that order, owner Jixi Qiu was required to pay “an additional $10,000 in penalties for his “willful” violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“The Saucy Crab’s owner took tips from servers and bartenders to benefit his company and denied servers, cooks and dishwashers their fully earned wages. This judgment puts those wages back in the hands of former employees shortchanged by Qiu and the restaurant,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Mary O’Rourke. “The Department of Labor will always protect the rights of workers in all industries to receive the pay they have rightfully earned.”…