Many employers in hospitality and other service industries take the tip credit toward their minimum wage obligation under federal wage and hour law – but complying with evolving rules has been challenging in recent years....more
If you take the tip credit for employees that receive gratuities, you’ll want to review your policies and practices in light of Monday’s game-changing announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The Department...more
There’s been a lot of buzz about tipped wages as Election Day approaches – and hospitality employers will want to track key proposals that may have a huge impact on pay practices. Former President Trump and Vice President...more
9/3/2024
/ Ballot Measures ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Service Charges ,
State Labor Laws ,
Tax Credits ,
Tip Credit ,
Tip-Pooling ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Wage and Hour
A federal appeals court just delivered some good news to hospitality employers by blocking the Department of Labor’s infamous 80/20/30 rule, providing immediate relief to employers around the country by vacating the...more
8/26/2024
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Appeals ,
Arbitrary and Capricious ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Final Rules ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Minimum Wage ,
Tip Credit ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Wage & Hour Division (WHD) ,
Wage and Hour
Many restaurants utilize tip pools to encourage teamwork, consistency, and customer-focused service – but you may be confused about who can and can’t participate in the pool. You feel confident that your servers and...more
5/17/2024
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Minimum Wage ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Tip Credit ,
Tip-Pooling ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Wage and Hour
Tipping is everywhere: the coffee shop, the florist, and even the dry cleaner! This booming tip culture has led many employers that may not have traditionally established a tip pool to consider using one to ease the impact of...more
Hotel staff often include a mix of tipped and non-tipped jobs, but following wage and hour rules isn’t always easy, particularly if employees perform a variety of tasks. Some workers — such as servers and bartenders — may...more
9/13/2023
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Minimum Wage ,
Tip Credit ,
Tip-Pooling ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Wage & Hour Division (WHD) ,
Wage and Hour
A federal court just refused to block the U.S. Department of Labor’s infamous 80/20 rule, which applies to employers that take the tip credit toward their minimum wage obligation under federal wage and hour law – which means...more
Do you utilize a tip pool in your restaurant? If so, you are likely aware of the various rules on maintaining a valid, lawful tip pool under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and applicable state laws. You surely...more
More than a year after the US Department of Labor announced the return of the time-keeping nightmare that is the 80/20 rule with new tweaks that encourage even more litigation, the agency just released new guidance that...more
Employers in the hospitality industry have been through it all in recent years – from the devastation of the pandemic to ongoing labor shortages to an impending recession. These challenges and dramatic changes have surely...more
1/19/2023
/ Bonuses ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Managers ,
Over-Time ,
Rate of Pay ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
Salaried Employees ,
Service Charges ,
Supervisors ,
Tip Credit ,
Tip-Pooling ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Unpaid Overtime ,
Wage and Hour
On the heels of the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer vaccine, several major U.S. cities are requiring vaccines for entry to restaurants, shops, and entertainment facilities – and some businesses are instituting their own...more
The world is opening up again and Americans are venturing out to travel, shop, and dine out. With the sudden rise in leisure and hospitality sales, the industry is facing an increased need for skilled employees – but...more
7/6/2021
/ Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Labor Shortage ,
Mobile Apps ,
Payroll Records ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Tip Credit ,
Tip-Pooling ,
Tipped Employees ,
Tips ,
Wage & Hour Division (WHD) ,
Wage and Hour
As the pandemic rages through Kentucky and the holidays right around the corner, Governor Beshear just issued an executive order mandating significant restrictions on businesses to slow down the escalating spread of COVID-19...more
11/19/2020
/ Bars ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Beshear ,
Health and Safety ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Relief Measures ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Workplace Safety
The Department of Labor started off 2020 by focusing its enforcement efforts on child labor law compliance. In January, several large quick-service franchisee restaurants were slapped with hefty penalties for violating child...more
You’ve got a packed restaurant dinner rush and now a lactating employee you are legally required to accommodate. The problem is there is no time in the schedule for someone to leave the floor and nowhere to put her. What do...more