In a decisive move against wage violations, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has slapped a heavy fine on a high-end Boston restaurant, known for its contemporary Japanese cuisine. AG Campbell’s office cited Azumi LLC, operating as Zuma, alongside its manager Garrett Ronan, for the egregious mishandling of employee’s tips. A penalty totalling about $1.8 million is the result of an investigation initiated by a worker’s complaint in July 2022, which claimed managerial staff were unlawfully included in the tip pool—a practice prohibited under Massachusetts law.
According to the official announcement from today, “Captains” who hold managerial responsibilities at Zuma had been partially paid through pooled tips between July 2022 and July 2024. The state’s laws permit tip sharing; however, managers or supervisors with duty-bound authority for that day are restricted from partaking in, such employee benefits—a regulation Zuma apparently overlooked or chose to ignore.
AG Campbell’s office underscores this charge is but a thread in the broader fabric of her commitment to safeguard the labor force from exploitation. Their unwavering pursuit ensures workers receive fair wages and employers who overstep legal boundaries are held to account. This specific citation by Campbell’s office promises to disburse restitution directly to the impacted employees, with some individuals receiving up to $50,000 in compensation…