The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the FLSA does not restrict employer-mandated tip-pooling arrangements when no tip credit is taken by the employer against the minimum wage obligation.  Cumbie v. Woody Woo, Inc., et al., No. 08-35718 (9th Cir. Feb. 23, 2010).  Further, the Court rejected the DOL’s regulation at 29

The following report is sent to us from Richard I. Greenberg and Felice B. Ekelman

The New York Department of Labor’s 2009 Restaurant and Hotel Industry Wage Board has submitted its Report and Recommendations to consolidate the individual wage orders for the restaurant and hotel industries into a single Hospitality Industry Wage Order.  Commissioner of Labor M. Patricia Smith had convened the Wage Board to recommend changes in the wage and hour regulations that govern restaurant and hotel industry workers following recent modifications to wage rates, gratuities and allowances emanating from the latest increase to the New York minimum wage (see New York Employers Subject to Modified Wage Orders Effective Immediately.

If approved, the September 21, 2009 Wage Board Report and Recommendations would implement many significant changes to existing restaurant and hotel wage orders.  Some of these recommendations are summarized after the jump.Continue Reading New York State Wage Board Approves Revised Hospitality Industry Wage Order