ACTION ALERT: Georgia Restaurants to be Visited by U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor has started a statewide campaign against violations of minimum wage, child labor and overtime laws.
The agency will conduct unannounced investigator visits to restaurants all over Georgia (beginning November 2011 through April 2012) with a focus on franchises. Please note that all investigators will carry picture identification issued by the U.S. Department of Labor.
What You Need to Do:
Should your establishment be visited, please be prepared to provide contact information of who in your company can answer their questions (i.e. payroll provider, accountant, attorney, etc).
Federal Law States:
• Current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, significantly higher than the Georgia minimum wage of $5.15 per hour.
• The minimum age of most non-farm work is 16 years old. Workers aged 14 to 15 years old can work outside school hours in certain occupations and conditions.
• Overtime occurs when an employer requires an employee covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act to work more than 40 hours in one week. Employees must be compensated at a rate at least 1½ times their regular pay.
Contact Information
For questions or more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s website (
www.dol.gov) or call the Atlanta office at (404) 893-4600.
Fact Sheets
The Wage and Hour Division produces a number of useful on-line fact sheets.
Employing Minors
The Department of Labor also provides guidance for employing minors, both in terms of work hours as well as hazardous occupations. That information is available at
http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/index.htm
