A Big Payout for Restaurant Workers

A fancy restaurant group is giving back over a million dollars to its workers.

Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment will pay $1.55 million to settle a lawsuit.

Workers' Claims

• Unpaid Tips: Workers alleged they didn't receive all the tips they earned.
• Minimum Wage Violations: They claimed they were not paid the full minimum wage for extra tasks.

Over 700 servers, bartenders, and assistants are part of this settlement.

Company's Stance

• The company denies any wrongdoing but is paying to avoid a lengthy court battle.
• The settlement covers workers in Ohio and Kentucky.
• Some workers claim they are owed up to $19,000 for unpaid labor, including pre-shift tasks.

Tip Pooling Dispute

• Workers stated they had to surrender part of their tips, which were given to kitchen staff.
• They alleged the restaurant did not follow the rules for tip pooling.

Company's Response

• The company insists they treat workers well and refer to them as family.
• Workers' lawyers argue the company took their hard-earned money.

Settlement Details

• A judge has approved the deal.
• If no objections are raised, the settlement will be final in May.
• Workers will receive their share of the settlement.

Broader Implications

This case highlights the importance of workers standing up for their rights.