Columbus Gourmet Food Facing Lawsuit Over Unpaid Wage Claims

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Columbus Gourmet Food is facing a proposed collective action filed by two employees who allege they were deprived of appropriate minimum, overtime and spread-of-hours wages.

According to the lawsuit—which names the New York City restaurant’s operating companies and owners as defendants—one plaintiff was employed as a pizza maker and the other as a delivery worker and salad preparer. The case says that the workers spent a significant portion of their shifts performing non-tipped duties such as preparing food and cleaning, meaning the defendants were not entitled to apply a tip credit to their wages. 

One plaintiff goes on to allege that his manager maintained fraudulent records by writing in tips that the man never received. From the complaint:

“Specifically, [the defendant] would write down that [the plaintiff] was making $25 to $30 in tips, and up to $50 to $80 in daily tips in 2017, when in reality, [the plaintiff] only got $2 to $3 in daily tips, if any tips at all.”

The suit further claims the defendants regularly adjusted the plaintiffs’ paystubs and wage records to reflect inaccurate information.