The federal government is fining the owner of Rinka Japanese Restaurant for allowing a manager to keep wait staffs’ tips, and denying overtime pay for kitchen workers.
The U.S. Department of Labor has cited the owner for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
A release from the labor department identified R-International Inc. as the owner of Rinka Restaurant. State public records show the business is owned by Masao Tsuchihashi.
The investigation showed that the owner was allowing a manager to illegally keep a portion of the workers’ tips.
The owner also denied overtime pay for the kitchen staff who were working an average of 55 hours a week.
The owner paid $85,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages for 13 employees. Rinka Restaurant also paid $10,000 in civil money penalties for violating labor laws.
