Rick Ross’ family is under fire for approximately five of its Wingstop locations in Mississippi, USA Today reports.
According to reports from the Labor Department, Boss Wings Enterprises LLC allegedly made its employees pay for uniforms, safety training, background checks, and cash register shortages, which ultimately caused their employees’ wages to drop below the $7.25 federal minimum wage.
Launching An Investigation
Further investigation revealed that the Department of Labor managed to recover $51,674 in back wages for a total of 244 workers in the amount of $62,753 in civil money penalties from the organization.
“Restaurant industry employees work heard, often for low wages, and many depend on every dollar earned to make ends meet,” said Audrey Hall, Wage and Hour Division Director in Jackson, MS. “The law prevents Boss Wing Enterprises LLC from shifting operating costs to workers by deducting the costs of uniforms, cash registers or training expenses, or to allow a worker’s pay to fall below the minimum wage rate.”
The Wingstop Franchise
As of 2016, Ross owned 10 Wingstop locations through his Boss Wings Enterprises LLC. As previously reported by AfroTech, last year he gifted his son one of the franchises for his 16th birthday.
Wingstop, which is a Texas-based fast-food chain, has about 1,400 locations worldwide.
Boss Wings Enterprises LLC — owned and operated by Ross’ sister Tawanda Roberts and his mother Tommie Roberts — has been hit with more than $100,000 in fines due to the proposed violations.
“Our franchise agreement requires all of our franchisees to operate under our operating standards, which requires compliance with all laws and regulations,” said a Wingstop spokesperson in a statement to USA TODAY via email. “We were not previously aware of the DOL action against Boss Wings LLC.”