The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DLWHD) fined Rick Ross and his family after their five Boss Wings locations were caught with several violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The department is looking for them to pay fines.
Rick Ross owns five Wingstop locations that are operated by Boss Wing Enterprises in Mississippi. The DLWHD stated that they collected $114,427 “in back wages, liquidated damages and civil penalties” after discovering that employees were illegally required to pay for their own uniforms, cash register shortages, safety training, and background checks, dropping the minimum wage underneath the $7.25 minimum wage.
Their failure to keep track of employee hours and the wage reduction are other violations. Furthermore, the department discovered that a 15-year-old was allowed to work past 10 p.m. many times last year, which is a violation of child labor laws. Workers aged 15 and 15 aren’t allowed to work past 7 p.m.
The $114,427 total stems from the $51,674 “in the back wages and liquidated damages for 224 workers” and a $62,753 “in civil money penalties.”
“Restaurant industry employees work hard, often for low wages, and many depend on every dollar earned to make ends meet,” Audrey Hall, the DLWHD Director said. “The law prevents Boss Wing Enterprises LLC from shifting operating costs to workers by deducting the costs of uniforms, cash register shortages or training expenses, or to allow a worker’s to fall below the minimum wage rate.”
Hall continued, “Employers who do not respect their workers’ rights will likely struggle to retain and recruit people they need to remain competitive, as workers look for opportunities with employers that do.”
Some of Rick Ross’ family members that are listed as owners of the Mississippi Boss Wings Enterprises LLC are his sister Tawanda Robers and mother Tommie Roberts. He currently owns close to 30 wing stop franchises.
So far, Rick Ross hasn’t said anything about the matter.
