Catherwood LibraryILR School

A recently released New York State Labor Department report revealed the results of a surprise sweep of 23 Park Slope restaurants conducted in April. The report said that all but two of the restaurants inspected have been charged with minimum wage and/or overtime violations, in some cases paying staff as little as $2.75 an hour. In several extreme cases, the Labor Department also found violations at sister establishments, bringing the total of restaurants in violation up to 25. Overall, 207 employees at the 25 eateries were underpaid by about $915,000. New York minimum wage is $7.25 an hour but wages for cooks, delivery drivers, wait staff and dishwashers at the restaurants ranged from $2.75 to $6.00 an hour. Owners of several of the restaurants maintain that they pay their workers fairly, and have complained about the charges. One restaurant manager who owes his employees $200,000 has said that he doesn't have the money, and will likely be forced to close.