Salina Journal News: Hays, Wichita IHOP employees have money recovered for them

Hays, Wichita IHOP employees have money recovered for them

7/2/2009

The KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Thirty-five International House of Pancake employees in Hays and Wichita had more than $64,000 in overtime and back wages recovered for them, according to a news release issued Thursday afternoon from The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
The employees worked for White Dove, Inc., Hays, and Flying Dove, Inc., Wichita, both doing business as the International House of Pancakes. The investigation disclosed multiple violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Mohamed Touffaha is president and owner of both companies, which together also paid $4,122 in civil money penalties for the violations, according to the news release.
The investigations found that nonexempt cooks as well as a manager were paid salaries with no additional overtime compensation; those who bus tables and dishwashers were paid in cash at straight time for overtime hours, rather than time and a half their regular rates; and servers were paid an incorrect tip overtime rate. Furthermore, time and payroll records were not accurately maintained.
In Hays, 19 employees were paid a total of $27,931 in back wages, and $1,122 in civil money penalties was paid. In Wichita, 16 employees were paid a total of $36,571 in back wages and $3,000 in civil money penalties was paid.