"You're a dead man."
That's what Mario and Jaime Lopez, two of the owners and managers of Bianco Rosso, (allegedly) told one of their restaurant's former employees when confronting him at his new job. The issue that made them so mad? A Department of Labor investigation into management stealing from the tip pool.
According to a recently filed DOL lawsuit, Bianco Rosso and its three owners, Cristina Ramirez and the Lopezes, engaged in unlawful retaliation against employees who participated in the DOL's investigation.
In addition to the murder threats, the alleged retaliation included:
😡 Repeatedly insulting employees involved in the investigation, including calling one "Judas" and a "whore."
😡 Threatening to deport employees who disclosed any information to the DOL.
😡 Cutting shifts and demoting employees involved in the investigation.
😡 Telling employees that they would have to kick back to the restaurant any wages recovered by the DOL.
😡 Instructing employees to withhold information from and provide false information to DOL investigators.
😡 Warning employee that they had previously treated them but that they would now learn who they "really" are.
Employees have a legal right to complain to the DOL about unpaid wages and to participate in a DOL investigation. If you threaten to murder employees who exercise those rights, you might be the worst employer of 2024.