YUMA, Arizona — A McDonald’s franchise owner was ordered to pay more than $128,000 in unpaid wages and damages after refusing to pay full payments to more than 300 employees at seven McDonald’s locations in Yuma County. said the official.
Based in Calexico, California, Jose Leon is the franchise owner and operator of multiple McDonald’s locations in Yuma.
The U.S. Department of Labor said in a press release Wednesday that its Wages and Hours division found Leon violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Officials said Leon was accused of failing to pay 1.5 hours of overtime as required for employees who worked more than 40 hours per week.
In total, Leon had to pay $62,238 in unpaid wages and $62,238 in damages to the 332 workers affected.
The department also found that Leon had failed to pay all eight employees for their hours worked. An investigation recovered $2,160 in unpaid wages and an additional $2,160 of his damages to these workers.
In total, Leon had to pay $128,796 in unpaid wages and damages.
Leon was also fined $20,263 as a civil penalty for the theft.
“This survey shows the costly consequences facing employers who have failed to comply with federal overtime and minimum wage requirements,” said Eric, District Director of Wages and Hours, Phoenix. Murray says.
During fiscal 2021, the Wages and Hours Department conducted more than 4,200 investigations and recovered more than $34.7 million in unpaid wages for food service workers.
“As employers in the restaurant industry continue to struggle to recruit employees, they could struggle to find and retain the employees they need to run their businesses if they do not pay their employees full wages. There is potential,” Murray added.
Related: Arizona’s unemployment rate is the lowest since the 1970s.What job seekers should be aware of
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Los empleados de un restaurante McDonald’s en el condado Yuma recuperan $128,000 en salarios robados
If you believe you or someone you know is behind on wages, you can contact the department at our toll-free helpline at 866-487-9243.
