Restaurant chain to issue employee attendance back pay

Georgia-based restaurant chain Huddle House recently agreed to pay more than $60,000 in back wages to 128 employees following a Department of Labor investigation that uncovered widespread noncompliance of Fair Labor Standards Act provisions.

Violations related to minimum wage, overtime employee attendance compensation, record-keeping and other requirements were observed at some of the chain's locations in Georgia, Missouri and West Virginia. Specifically, some employees were not paid time-and-a-half for each hour worked that exceeded 40 hours in one week, and others received less than minimum wage when their base pay was combined with tips.

In addition to the time and attendance issues, the restaurant chain also disregarded child labor laws. A 15-year-old worker was erroneously permitted to work longer hours than is legally allowed. The restaurant was fined more than $48,000 for the underage employee infraction.

Earlier this month, fast food restaurant chain Arby's agreed to pay nearly $57,000 in back wages to more than 750 current and former employees after the Department of Labor found that overtime hours had not been included in their bonuses, according to The Associated Press.