HUNTLEY, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADI0) -- The U.S. Department of Labor is asking a federal judge to issue a restraining order against the owners of a restaurant in Huntley that’s under investigation for allegedly underpaying employees.
The owners of Papa G’s restaurant, Steve and Rick Tsakalios, retaliated against and intimidated employees- telling them not to give information to investigators, according to the Department of Labor.
Furthermore, the Department of Labor said they entered the area where employees were being interviewed and threatened to find out what they were saying.
“Threatening or intimidating employees to prevent their cooperation with U.S. Department of Labor investigators is illegal,” Regional Solicitor of Labor Christine Heri said in a statement.
“Doing so discourages workers from asserting their rights and interferes with effective enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Our request for a temporary restraining order in this matter shows the department will do everything in its power to protect workers’ rights.”
The restaurant is under investigation for allegedly failing to pay employees overtime. The government is seeking $60,000 in back wages and an equal amount in damages.
Now, it suggests the owners may have made matters worse. A Labor Department attorney said “Threatening or intimidating employees to prevent their cooperation with investigators is illegal.”
WBBM has not been able to reach the owners.
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