This Bucks County hotel was ordered to repay employees. This is what it did instead

J. Staas Haught, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read

QUAKERTOWN - A hotel operator ordered by the state to repay workers for stolen wages instead demanded employees repay him, a federal court determined.

The U.S. Department of Labor earlier this year determined Ramket Enterprises, operator of the Quakertown Hampton Inn, only paid employees straight time rates and didn't keep time records.

Ramket and general manager Ketan Joshi were ordered to pay more than $15,000 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to 21 workers.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania also imposed an $18,092 penalty in the February order.

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Instead, Joshi reportedly texted one of the employees' spouse ordering them to repay some of the wages they were awarded.

“Our investigation found Ramket Enterprises Inc. and general manager Ketan Joshi violated the terms of an earlier consent judgment and then shockingly demanded an employee kick back their rightfully earned wages.” Wage and Hour Division District Director James Cain in Philadelphia said in a news release.

Now, Joshi and Ramket have been ordered to pay an additional $20,000 — $8,750 in back wages and an equal amount in damages, $500 in interest to the employees and $2,000 in investigative and attorney fees to the Labor Department.

The hotel on John Fries Highway must also post a notice to workers that their employer can't pressure them to turn over money paid to them in the judgements.

“The U.S. Department of Labor will not stand by and allow employers to ignore or override their legal obligations,” said Deputy Regional Solicitor of Labor Samantha Thomas in Philadelphia.

The division’s Philadelphia District Office conducted the investigation. Senior Trial Attorney Andrea Luby with the department’s Office of the Solicitor in Philadelphia litigated the case.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Quakertown Hampton Inn violated Labor Department order