Labor Department recoups $49K for local hotel workers

Posted to: Business Jobs
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By Philip Walzer
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 28, 2012

The U.S. Department of Labor announced Friday that it had gained nearly $49,000 in back wages for 108 local workers after a sweep last year of hotels and motels to monitor compliance with wage laws.

The department's Wage and Hour Division investigated 10 local hotels and motels from April to June 2011, the department said in a news release. It found violations including failure to pay employees for total hours worked and failure to pay the correct overtime rate to workers who receive tips.

"The culture of noncompliance in the Hampton Roads hotel and motel industry will not be tolerated," said Patricia Pickett, director of the division's Norfolk office, in a statement. "The Wage and Hour Division will continue to monitor this industry for continued compliance."

For more information, call the division at 441-3490 or a national toll-free hotline at 1-866-487-9243 or go to www.dol.gov/whd.

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FED strike on behalf of SEIU

Submitted by Founding Father on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 1:30 pm.

Nobody puts a gun to their heads and makes them work there. Get another job if you don't like it. Just don't make me laugh by hiding the fact the Fed struck one for the SEIU.

Every individual needs to take personal responsibility for their own future. You don't like the current pay scale, move to another job, or another hotel or restaurant.

What about all of the so called mistreated employees that are not part of a union. Oh yeah, Fed doesn't care about you. These workers may not be union workers, but they are all classified by SEIU as potential members. This is the door to argue that all hotels and restaurants need to be union shops. Wake up.

Abuse of Employees A-OK

Submitted by Kelly_L on Sun, 01/29/2012 at 10:38 pm.

So you feel that employers should have all the power-No laws to protect workers, no consequences if they do break the laws? Simply find another job? So, if there are no laws regulating wages and employment conditions and no consequences to those actions, then every employer will treat employees humanely and fairly just because?

You forget why safety and wage laws came into being. If there is no fairness, no consideration for employees then you will see unions rise.

By saying it is a choice for employees to work you then support a return to the dark ages of employment-rampant abuse of people-no OT, no minimum wages, no workers compensation, no non-discrimination laws. Be careful that wish doesn't bite you in the behind some day.

So, it's okay to abuse and

Submitted by Anthony on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 2:38 pm.

So, it's okay to abuse and take advantage of and abuse a worker because that is the only job they are able to find? But for the Grace of God go I. Watch out for that karma.

Was

Submitted by AndrewJackson on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 2:11 pm.

Was your hotel one of the businesses involved in the investigation?

FED strike on behalf of SEIU

Submitted by Founding Father on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 1:30 pm.

Nobody puts a gun to their heads and makes them work there. Get another job if you don't like it. Just don't make me laugh by hiding the fact the Fed struck one for the SEIU.

Every individual needs to take personal responsibility for their own future. You don't like the current pay scale, move to another job, or another hotel or restaurant.

VA wage laws for tipped

Submitted by Anthony on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 10:24 am.

VA wage laws for tipped employees needs a serious overhaul. Tipped employees are only paid $2.13/hr in VA. This has led to abusive practices of wait staff and hotel maids. Management overstaffs. Servers have fewer tables. All servers are required to stay until closing. No tables no tips those last four hours you are making $2.13 per hour. Some Restaurants, like TGI Fridays require their servers to pay the salaries of the hosts and hostesses. Servers tip out 3% of their sales to the hosts. How on earth does the Restaurant industry get away with these slave wages? How many guests tip the maid? The minimum wage for tipped personnel needs to be increased. It won't be. The restaurant and hotel lobby lines the pockets of the legislature.

without naming names this

Submitted by veryold on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 9:51 am.

without naming names this article has a hollow ring to it. Why were they witheld??

agree with you!

Submitted by jfr on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 7:08 pm.

Where are the names of the violators? Guess Kerry D. gonna have to get them for us!!

Violations of Wages

Submitted by theresac97442 on Sat, 01/28/2012 at 4:43 am.

These type of practices are rampant in the Hampton Roads market when it comes to not only the hotel and motel industry but also the food service and retail industry. Many times, if the hours are only behind or tips behind, owners promise to "catch up" next time or next month will be better. However, these employees will not come forward to complain for fear that they will loose their jobs. These people never think about all the trouble the employer is exposed to when the Labor Department or IRS catches up with them over unpaid taxes, unfiled or incorrect W-2's, etc. This is one reason a union would protect employees from these types of abuses. Oh, I forgot our Commonwealth does not believe in protecting workers from unjust employers.