Jackson Jambalaya

From what I understand the amount of 'business meals' ordered by Jimmy the Hair entertaining family and friends declined dramatically after Balducci and Patterson got dinged.

Now maybe if they can concoct an oil spill beef with Ken Feinberg some of that business might return. It pays to not be an estranged member of the family.

That may explain why there is almost always a classified ad in the local paper placed by Crechale's seeking wat staff.

I really hate to see/hear of this development. Not good news and looks to be a solid case IF the plaintiffs have complete and accurate records to substantiate their claims. It'll take a helluva lot more than the posted memo.

While it is certainly NOT illegal to require that tips go into a common pool or that non-wait staff share them, it IS illegal to cause wages to fall below minimum wage, even where you have a 'tips only' method of payment. And its always illegal to require that employees perform work 'off the clock', which means not recording their time.

As the plaintiffs are 'former' employees, it would be interesting to learn why they are no longer there, whether there are letters or resignation or termination, what their personnel file reflects (if such files exist) and what the subpoenaed documents from Employment Security reflect.

8:34, nothing unusual about most restaurants in the area to be seeking wat (sic) staff. Constant turnover in the job. Feel free to apply.

GADS! Where is my old friend George Crechale when they need him?RIP!!!!

Isn't Bob Crechale the person who got into a lot of altercations?

Philip.

I realize there is a lot of turnover in waitstaff, but, as one of the last remaining subscribers to the C-L, I read the want ads nearly every day and Crechale's has an ad in there way more often that any other restaurant in Jackson.

Just noting the memo post-dates the plaintiffs' employment by over half a year.

I'm willing to bet this lawsuit is bull shit.

Correction: It is not illegal for an employer to have a policy/arrangement whereby tips go into a common pool for some sort of distribution. However, the employer cannot be a member of the pool, nor can those who never receive tips be included in the pool.

It's also not uncommon for patrons to tip the cooks. If Crechale's required wait staff to pool all their tips and took part of the tips for itself or for others who never receive tips, it's my understanding that is illegal under the DOL FLSA.

Now, if for example in a place like Waffle House where wait staff and cooks work in close proximity and there might be a tip jar near the register, it's debatable as to who could share in the mandatory distribution of those tips. On the rare occasions when I visit Waffle House, I'd rather my tip go to the cook than the girl popping gum behind the counter. The cook is awsome to keep up with all those shouted or scribbled orders.

As with so many complaints, "interesting if true."

What does this have to do with Harborwalk? I must be out of the loop because I see it labeled as Harborwalk, what am I missing?

Love the onion rings

Clearly another landmark is going down.


Sad

Harborwalk, Onion Rings, Clearly guilty. Great contributions.

Stupid rephrasing of contributions. Worthless contribution.

Oh jeez.

A little more than a decade ago a good friend of mine from HS got a job here as a waitress the summer before she headed off to college. She found it in the C-L classifieds, if I remember correctly, and I remember her parents were sort-of unhappy that she was working in the Hwy. 80 area (she was from NE Jackson) but also happy she was working someplace (good life skills).

She had a very unfortunate time working at Crechale's. She was forced to do work off-the-clock as described in the complaint. Waitresses' pay was docked for "infractions" (often times things that couldn't be helped or that weren't relevant to their jobs), etc. etc. She definitely didn't get tips PLUS minimum wage, either.

Of course my friend had graduated from a Jackson-area private school, had parents who were very successful and paid for her, and was off to college so she never thought about raising the issues with anyone else (etc).

I remember another friend and I visited her at work one day; that is/was a very depressing place. Most of the waitstaff who work there - at least at that point in time - were very much "stuck" in low-wage jobs for folks without much education.

In other words: I believe this lawsuit 100%.

WOW! 2:34, you really seem to have some smoldering info on this case. Hope they call you as a witness.

If I remember when I worked waiting, I was not paid minimum wage + tips. Base pay was less than minimum wage because the tips made up the difference and that was to equal minimum wage; unless you were a star at waiting on people.

What is this bit in that bulletin about not having enough cash to pay tips? huh?

Federal law does NOT require minimum wage plus tips. And there IS no Mississippi law addressing wages other than deferring to federal minimum. Wouldn't it be amazing if contributors here knew jack-shit about what they were thinking before they posted?

PS: It no doubt did the prissy-poants girl from NE Jacktown good to work in the seedy district. Gives a new definition to Hauty Pig.

I would assume that they took a hit with the recession.

Also, they probably at some rate do not have enough cash to cover the tips left on a credit card. Paying the next day accomplishes a couple things:

1. Employees show up the next day.
2. Crechales makes sure to have the cash from the bank to cover the tips from the previous day.

Great reporting, Kingfish. A lot more will come out as this case unfolds. A lot more. You can bet some people that ate there are going to be a little hot under the collar.

Having worked in this business a little in college, it is not uncommon for the wait staff to "tip" the bartenders and bussers 1%, (to be split depending on revenue). If you do a better job as a bartender or busser maybe you get more...wink wink from the wait staff. Working off the clock seems like a ploy to maybe evade taxes, (an SOP in the Mom and Pop restaurant business). Come on Bob, pay the wait staff, I would hate for the IRS to get wind of this. Surely all income is above board.

Waited tables and bartended in three states, mostly during college in one state. Always was norm to tip out others with a certain amount predetermined by the industry norm for the area. Was never set in stone or required but those who didn't were greeted with delays from bar, kitchen, etc., which affected the waitstaff's ability to provide a timely and pleasant experience for their tables....so if waitstaff wanted cooperation with others in restaurant that meant timely drinks from bar, plates from kitchen, bussing from busboys, and new folks in the seat from hostesses, you 'tipped out.'
As far as min wage, waitstaff don't ever receive what is minimum wage that other non-tip folks get. We got something like 2 bucks and change an hour and this is the min for law for folks deriving majority of income from tips. I know that is law b/c worked for several national chains as well as privately owned places and was same at each place.

Isn't Bob's wife a CPA? She would certainly be familiar with the law.

11:29's experience is the same as my children who worked as servers for summer jobs while in college.

I believe federal law requires $2.75 an hour plus tips and there's a minimum tax assumption for tips as well.

I can't help but wonder how this restaurant's tax filings were completed. Were there just selected employees listed for the minimum wage? Were the cooks the only employees claimed or were family members paid as employees?

Like car sales, I've always hated this archaic way of doing business. I'd prefer not to haggle or tip, but just pay for goods and services received. I appreciate restaurants that simply add a gratuity though there are few that do. And, I appreciate car sales where blue book prices for trades and new car sales are accepted though that is rarer still.

We eat there often, most of the wait staff have been there for years and seem happy with their jobs. It is a Jackson landmark.

One of my family members worked there for years. I know with absolute certainty that the claims made in this case did in fact happen and had been going on for years. Waitstaff were always required to work off the clock before shifts, setting up the restaurant in preparation for opening; and after shifts, cleaning, refilling condiments, etc., ALWAYS OFF THE CLOCK.
In addition, several times a year they are required to come in on a Sunday (for the pay of $10.00)to deep-clean the restaurant; climbing on chairs and tables to steam clean walls and booths, etc. Anyone who objected was told they could go find another job elsewhere - and most of them did not have education or experience to do so, thus they were afraid of losing their jobs and not having means to support their families.
I urged my relative countless times to file an EEOC complaint but she was fearful of losing her livelihood. The Crechales used and manipulated their employees for their own financial gain. They should have to repay all past employees the money they illegally took from them.

One other notable issue: Waitstaff were required to be "on call" on their days off, in case someone else didn't show up for their shift. If they tried and failed to reach someone on their day off, to tell them to come in to work, then that person was penalized by: their hours being cut; their station being downsized (therefore less tips); or even being fired. Your anniversary?... Going to visit a sick parent?... Family reunion? That didn't make any difference, even if the day(s) off had been requested and approved months ahead of time. If they called, you had to come running, or risk losing your job.
I know of one waiter who had to choose between not attend the long-planned out-of-state family reunion, or be fired.
Wisely, he chose to quit and go find a job with an ethical employer.

I'm not in the law profession, but...

My guess is that the plaintiffs (on wait staff wages) don't have a lot of extra money in their coffers to be paying attorney's fees. So, it seems logical to me that most attorneys (wanting to get paid for their services) would not take on a case like this, unless it was a slam-dunk.

Most wait staff know to tip the bartenders, hostesses, etc, which the plaintiffs likely did. However, being forced to do so by an employer is something totally different. My guess is the tip thing is a minor issue in the whole story. Because the employer was stupid and audacious enough to post a memo like that, there is no telling what else will unfold.

Keep us posted KF!

@12:07. Fairness and emotion aside, it's not illegal in this state to fire someone for any reason or no reason at all as long as it is not an illegal violation of federal statutes. It's also not illegal in this state to alter job assignments, cut hours or be told not to wear a green shirt.

@9:26, being a CPA or married to one has nothing to do with following the requirements of the FLSA. Accountants aren't necessarily even familiar with wage and hour laws and other labor laws. They 'might' be, but they aren't necessarily.

If the waitsatff doesn't like their job or conditions, phucking QUIT and do something else. Good Lord.

Cry ass babies. Bob has a great shop. Open your won damn restaurant.

Yes, a 'won restaurant'. Just what we need, another Chinese eatery specializing in won-cat.

Hey, 6:35 PM

"Bob" has great veal too. Only it's not veal. It's pork loin pounded out with a mallet.He lies and screws the customer.

The "prime" beef he praises from table to table? No.. a much lower grade.Again, he lies and screws his customer.

The "trout"? Damn! Missed again! No rainbow trout at Bobs.It's drum. Same thing they serve for snapper.

The orders will prove it all.

The staff had to lie every single time they took an order.

Those rolls you you ate? A few were probably left from the table ahead of you.Hope their kids weren't digging in their nose when they played catch with them.

Your "won damn restaurant" is as nasty and as bogus as it gets and it's all coming out.

I have been reading these comments and just wondered if any of you has the fortitude to put it all on the line and go out on a limb to own a business. I have no way of knowing about Bob's policies or whether this suit is bogus or not. HOWEVER, I do believe I would know the difference between trout, snapper, flounder and DRUM...Come on now, at least play fair!

11:45 is probably a manager at Captain D's hoping to draw the seafood crowd over to the Jacktown shooting gallery.

Bob inherited 12:10, he didn't " put it all on the line".And, yeah, I have and didn't have to treat my employees like slaves to be successful nor did I inherit an existing business.