El Rodeo owner ordered to pay $834,000 in back wages

The owner of two El Rodeo restaurants in the metro has paid $834,000 in back wages to 64 workers.

The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division said Gloria Ochoa, majority owner of the Clive and Urbandale restaurants, forced workers to cash their paychecks and return the money to her. They also were required to pay $20 from their daily tips back to the restaurant.

After giving back cash from their paychecks and tips, workers’ wages consisted of their remaining tips.

The Department of Labor said Ochoa also falsified payroll and time records and failed to pay workers minimum wages and overtime. The investigation included the time between March 9, 2015 and May 21, 2017. Ochoa was required to pay the fine by Feb. 1 of this year.

The restaurateur paid a $1,150 fine for violating child labor laws, according the labor department. Ochoa was found to have employed a minor who worked more than the hours allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Acts child labor restrictions.

Ochoa admitted to the violations that included paying workers for 80 hours biweekly regardless of the number of hours they worked.

Ochoa could not be reached for comment. A person answering the phone at the Clive El Rodeo said she was out of the country.