Tipped Workers Win Wage Suits as Courts Toss Trump Guidance

An arcane provision of federal wage law known as the 80/20 rule for tipped occupations has spurred a cottage industry of plaintiff’s bar litigation targeting the restaurant industry. Tipped workers have been racking up legal victories, but that could be coming to an end with a Labor Department final rule.

Finalizing Rule: The DOL is in the midst of finalizing a rule that allows restaurants to pay tipped workers the lower minimum wage of $2.13 an hour for an unlimited amount of related untipped work, such as cleaning and stocking.

Courts Refuse: Restaurant industry lawyers have tried squelch the multiple ...