Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Denies Allegations of Unpaid Wages in a Lawsuit File by a Former Bar Vegan Employee | Eater Atlanta

"A Ponce City Market restaurant is the subject of a collective lawsuit brought by a former bartender, Morgan Georgia, who worked there from March 2020 until October 2022 and alleges the owners withheld tips and paid tipped staff the $2.13 hourly rate while also requiring employees to surrender 25% of their tips each shift. The complaint asserts violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s tip-credit rules by retaining a portion of tips rather than allowing workers to keep them to make up minimum-wage obligations; the plaintiffs are represented by attorney M. Travis Foust, who says two other employees are joining the suit. The named owners — Aisha “Pinky” Cole and partners Aaron Mattison and Jason Crain — filed a formal response in federal court denying all allegations, arguing employees were paid additional compensation that would satisfy any claimed wage or overtime deficiencies and asking the court to dismiss claims of individual liability. Cole, who says she does not run day-to-day operations at the restaurant, also posted on Instagram denying familiarity with the employee and defending her reputation after a scheduled TV appearance was canceled; she has emphasized her wider business success, philanthropic work supporting Black and brown entrepreneurs, and the expansion of her vegan restaurant brand and cookbook." - Beth McKibben