The Department of Labor (DOL) pays special attention to the way restaurant owners pay their employees because it can sometimes be difficult to properly calculate their earnings. Some staff members such as servers and bartenders are considered tipped employees, which means they only receive $2.13 per hour in most cases and receive the rest of their pay in gratuity. Others, such as kitchen staff and hosts, are not considered tipped and must be paid at least minimum wage for all of their employee attendance.

To keep restaurants from underpaying workers - either accidentally or deliberately - the DOL's Wage and Hour Division conduct investigations around the country. A recent audit of Boston's Lyons Group found time and attendance violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that will cost the company big time.

More than 400 employees were affected by the Lyon's Group improper payroll practice, which denied them the proper compensation for their total work time, investigators reported.

Affected workers from 15 popular Boston restaurants (Alibi Bar & Lounge, Back Bay Social Club, Bleacher Bar, The Estate, Game On, Harvard Gardens, Kings Boston, Kings Dedham, La Verdad, The Lansdowne Pub, Lucky's Lounge, Scampo, Sonsie, Sweetwater Cafe and Towne Stove & Spirits) will receive a potion of the $424, 000 in back wages the employer has agreed to pay in restitution.

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