#flsa

Temple volunteer or employee? When unpaid service becomes work in the US

A temple volunteer is not automatically an employee under U.S. law. Genuine unpaid religious service is generally permitted at nonprofits, but regular duties, expected compensation or replacing paid workers can change the analysis. Visa holders also face separate immigration rules. Indian temples across the United States often depend on volunteers for festivals, kitchens, religious programs, administration and community events. But when does un

NRI News

19 Sep 2026 12:16 PM

Temple volunteer or employee? When unpaid service becomes work in the US

NRI News

Texas coffee bar ordered to repay $85K after tip pool violations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $85,000 in back wages for employees at a Texas coffee business following an investigation into violations of federal wage laws. Officials said the case involved improper handling of employee tips and misuse of a tip credit system under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division investigated Nate’s At the Buda Mill & Grain Inc, operating as Nate’s Coffee & Cocktails in Buda, Texas. The investigation found that the company allowed its general manager to participate in an employee tip pool while also claiming a tip credit, a practice prohibited under federal law. As a result, the employer is required to pay $85,197 in back wages to 36 affected workers. Federal regulations clearly state that managers and supervisors are not permitted to retain any portion of employee tips or share in tip pools when a tip credit is applied. Tips are considered the property of service workers who earn them directly from customers. Violations of these provisions can result in employers losing the ability to claim tip credits and being required to compensate workers at the full federal minimum wage. The FLSA allows employers to pay tipped employees a base wage as low as $2.13 per hour, provided that tips received bring total earnings up to at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12 per hour to meet this requirement. However, strict compliance rules govern how tips are distributed and who may participate in tip pools. Labor officials emphasized that employers must ensure tipped workers receive all earnings owed and comply fully with wage and hour laws. The department encourages both workers and employers to seek guidance to better understand their rights and responsibilities under federal regulations.

Legal Matters

06 Apr 2026 14:26 PM

Texas coffee bar ordered to repay $85K after tip pool violations

Legal Matters

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#flsa

Temple volunteer or employee? When unpaid service becomes work in the US

Temple volunteer or employee? When unpaid service becomes work in the US

Texas coffee bar ordered to repay $85K after tip pool violations

Texas coffee bar ordered to repay $85K after tip pool violations

San Jose's $350K Domestic Violence Study Yields No Pilot Solutions

Kerala Fireworks Unit Blast Kills 13 Ahead Of Thrissur Pooram

Why India’s Ultra-Rich Are Turning to Family Offices for Wealth Management

How to Prepare for American Job Interviews as an Indian

India’s Manufacturing Hit by China’s Export Restrictions Amid US-China Tensions

US-Israel-Iran conflict escalates as strikes intensify and diplomacy falters

BCCI Reiterates No Bilateral Cricket With Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Spain joins india’s indo-pacific oceans initiative, boosting maritime cooperation

White House Press Briefing Gets Humorous Twist With JD Vance

Gold Dips as Silver Slides – Wednesday, May 27, 2026

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San Jose's $350K Domestic Violence Study Yields No Pilot Solutions

Kerala Fireworks Unit Blast Kills 13 Ahead Of Thrissur Pooram

Why India’s Ultra-Rich Are Turning to Family Offices for Wealth Management

How to Prepare for American Job Interviews as an Indian

India’s Manufacturing Hit by China’s Export Restrictions Amid US-China Tensions

US-Israel-Iran conflict escalates as strikes intensify and diplomacy falters

BCCI Reiterates No Bilateral Cricket With Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Spain joins india’s indo-pacific oceans initiative, boosting maritime cooperation

White House Press Briefing Gets Humorous Twist With JD Vance

Gold Dips as Silver Slides – Wednesday, May 27, 2026

#flsa

Temple volunteer or employee? When unpaid service becomes work in the US

Temple volunteer or employee? When unpaid service becomes work in the US

Texas coffee bar ordered to repay $85K after tip pool violations

Texas coffee bar ordered to repay $85K after tip pool violations

San Jose's $350K Domestic Violence Study Yields No Pilot Solutions

Kerala Fireworks Unit Blast Kills 13 Ahead Of Thrissur Pooram

Why India’s Ultra-Rich Are Turning to Family Offices for Wealth Management

How to Prepare for American Job Interviews as an Indian

India’s Manufacturing Hit by China’s Export Restrictions Amid US-China Tensions

US-Israel-Iran conflict escalates as strikes intensify and diplomacy falters

BCCI Reiterates No Bilateral Cricket With Pakistan After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Spain joins india’s indo-pacific oceans initiative, boosting maritime cooperation

White House Press Briefing Gets Humorous Twist With JD Vance

Gold Dips as Silver Slides – Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Popular Cities