Promotion date: February 22, 2022
Type of action: Complaint
Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gainesville Division
Names of the accused: Jankijuhi Inc., which operates as America's Best Value Inn; Juhi Janki LLC, doing business as Hofbräu River Front Hotel; Jasmine Juhi LLC, doing business as Budgetel Inn; Chhaganbhai Somabai Inc., trading as Jameson Hotel; and Ashvin Patel, owner
Accusations: A U.S. Department of Labor investigation of the above defendants, each located in Helen, Georgia, found the following violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act:
- Flat salaries were paid regardless of the number of hours worked, resulting in minimum wage violations when the average hourly wage fell below the federal minimum wage.
- Paid flat wages and failed to pay the hour and a half overtime rate when employees worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.
- They engaged in discriminatory actions and violated state-protected workers' rights when they retaliated against workers suspected of filing complaints.
In its complaint, the department sought a court order enjoining the employer from further FLSA violations.
Quote: “Employers are required to comply with all applicable anti-retaliation laws, including those designed to ensure employee protections with respect to wages under the Fair Labor Standards Actsaid regional employment attorney Tremelle Howard in Atlanta.
