Saravanaa Bhavan, the Largest South Indian Restaurant Chain in the World, Just Paid Bay Area Workers $2.2 Million | Eater SF

"I found that employees at the Sunnyvale Saravanaa Bhavan who worked there between February 23, 2016 and September 8, 2019 were alleged to have been denied unpaid minimum wage and overtime, owed meal and split-shift premiums, given inaccurate wage statements, and even had tips kept by the restaurant. As part of a settlement the California Labor Commissioner’s Office secured on behalf of 317 workers across three South Bay franchises, each affected worker will receive about $7,000 and an apology from their employers, and the company must post notices about employees’ tip rights and fund a one-hour labor-law training; under California law, tips belong to workers alone. I also note that Saravanaa Bhavan is a franchise of Indian vegetarian restaurants with locations throughout New York, New Jersey, and Texas and is described as the largest South Indian restaurant chain in the world, and California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower emphasized that wage theft can harm workers both economically and psychologically and that her office is working to provide restorative justice." - Paolo Bicchieri