Top 5 Ways Restaurants Violate Wage Laws

1. Failing to pay the correct amount in overtime. Tipped employees who receive the special restaurant sub-minimum wage are entitled to overtime at one and one-half times the actual minimum wage.

2. Failing to pay the correct special restaurant sub-minimum wage. In Maryland it is $3.08 per hour.

3. Failing to pay employees any direct wages (and paying the employees only in tips).

4. Keeping a portion of pooled tips for "the house" (i.e., the restaurant).

5. Failing to pay overtime to "assistant managers" who otherwise do not qualify for a white collar exemption.