Honolulu restaurant investigated for stealing tips and denying overtime pay | Hawai'i Public Radio

2022-08-13 09:57:22 By : Ms. Kathy Lee

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.