The DC Attorney General has initiated legal action against Talea Ristorante and its owner Hamza Hadani for alleged wage theft and labor violations. The lawsuit claims the restaurant engaged in practices like paying tipped employees as little as $3.99 per hour, failing to meet minimum wage requirements, denying required overtime, and withholding sick leave. Allegations also include retaliation against employees suspected of cooperating with an investigation. The claims emphasize that the working conditions led to financial struggles for the affected employees, highlighting serious labor law violations in a newly opened establishment.
We take issue and have denied and continue to deny the Government's allegations as this matter has been at issue for almost one year.. The only resolution is for the parties to utilize the resources of the Court for the District of Columbia.
The suit also alleges that the restaurant failed to make sure workers' take-home pay with tips met the full minimum wage (now $17.50 per hour).
Some staff worked 70-hour weeks, and the restaurant allegedly denied them overtime pay. Hadani instructed some employees to clock in when service began rather than when they arrived at work.
As a result of the alleged wage theft, employees struggled to pay for food, rent, medical expenses, and phone bills.
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