The Internet sensation known as Salt Bae is in hot water after his former employees went public with complaints about their purported unlawful treatment at one of his restaurants. Nusret Gökçe, a.k.a. Salt Bae, is a famous Turkish chef and an Instagram hit. However popular he may be on Instagram, it doesn’t translate to real-life ‘likes’ from his workers. Four of Gökçe’s ex-employees have filed complaints against him in Federal Court, the Southern District of New York, claiming they were fired because they dared to ask questions about how the tip pool was divvied up.
The ex-employees, who worked at the Nusr-Et steakhouse, called Gökçe “dictatorial” and stated that he doesn’t care about laws. They allege that management never told them how much the restaurant collected in tips. Instead, they would simply get their weekly checks of $2,000 to $2,500, which supposedly included the tips. They were never allowed to look at the document that showed how tips were distributed, which is a common practice in restaurants.
The National Labor Relations Board has started a federal probe into the matter. Although these employees did not disclose their immigration status in this New York Daily News article, their immigration status is irrelevant. Regardless of one’s immigration status, one has the right to bring claims for unpaid wages against their employer.
Thus, if an employer is taking advantage of his workers due to their immigration status, the employees have every right to take action against the employer. Undocumented workers have the same wage rights as documented workers. You have the same right to a minimum wage, overtime pay, breaks, and tips as a U.S. citizen.
Contact Our New York Employment Lawyer Who Knows Your Rights
As a hard-working employee in any establishment, it is obviously upsetting when an employer tried to take advantage of you and your colleagues. Whether you are a U.S. citizen or not, you have rights! Don’t become a victim of greedy employers. If your employer is taking advantage of you and not paying you fairly, contact a highly rated New York employment lawyer to evaluate your case.
To receive a FREE case evaluation with an employment attorney at Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP, call 800-223-2814.
