Filed in 2016, the Husein v. Bravo Brio Restaurant Group Inc. case involved 8,671 servers who claimed that Bravo Brio Restaurant Group violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to properly pay them minimum wage and overtime.
The class action lawsuit has been brought to an end with a $4 million restaurant wage and hour settlement.
The servers (both current and former — within three years of the date of filing) allege that the restaurant group required them to spend more than 20% of their workday completing non-tipped activities working away from customers.
Bravo Brio agreed to pay $4 million in 2017 to resolve claims the restaurant group failed to provide its workers with legal minimum wage and overtime compensation at its Bravo Cucina Italiana, Bravo Tuscan Grille, and Bon Vie Bistro restaurants in 32 U.S. states. The class asked for the settlement to be approved by a Missouri federal court.
Key lessons from this case:
- The case highlights the importance of employers complying with wage and hour laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- The lawsuit underscores the significance of correctly classifying employees, particularly in industries with tipped employees. Employers must accurately distinguish between tipped and non-tipped work activities and ensure that employees are compensated accordingly for all hours worked, including non-tipped activities.
- The case demonstrates the potential for class action lawsuits when a large number of employees share similar grievances regarding wage and hour violations.
If you want to know more about overtime regulations, read our guide on Missouri Overtime Laws.
