Cracker Barrel
Unpaid Wages Investigation
Hayber, McKenna & Dinsmore is investigating Cracker Barrel for minimum wage violations related to its Connecticut servers and bartenders.
HAVE YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW WORKED AS A SERVER OR BARTENDER AT CRACKER BARREL IN CONNECTICUT PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2020?
Prior to September 24th, 2020, restaurants were required to pay their servers the full minimum wage, currently $12.00/hr. in Connecticut, for their entire shift if they made those servers do side-work and failed to pay the side-work at the full minimum wage. We allege that Cracker Barrel assigned side-work but paid the lower server wage, $6.38/hr. for all hours worked, including side-work. We allege that this practice violates the law.
Q
I. What is this investigation about?A
Minimum Wage. Restaurants must pay their service employees the full minimum wage., currently $12.00/hr., for their entire shift if they make those employees do side-work and fail to pay the side-work at the full service, or tip-credit minimum wage for all hours worked, including side-work. We allege that this practice violates the law.
Q
II. Where can I learn more about the law?A
Click here. The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Gratuities in the Restaurant Industry webpage has more information about what constitutes “service” and “non-service” work (side-work).
Q
III. Where can I go if I have questions or information that might help the investigation?A
Call us. You are always welcome to call us at Hayber, McKenna & Dinsmore. Our number is 860-522-8888.
Important: At the request of Governor Ned Lamont and former Democratic Speaker of the House Joe Arasimowicz, Connecticut changed these laws on 9/24/2020 in a way that permits employers to have servers do more side-work than before the change. There still are limitations on what an employer may do. Please let us know if you have questions about the law both before and after 9/24/2020.