A California restaurant owner tried to intimidate employees who were filing a wage theft complaint by bringing in a fake priest to hear their confessions. The employees felt that the priest was being used to intimidate them, and that the restaurant was trying to silence them from speaking out. The restaurant has since agreed to a federal settlement after allegations of various labor law violations.

The incident is a reminder of the lengths that some employers will go to to silence their employees. It is important for employees to know their rights and to be prepared to speak out if they are being mistreated.

What Happened?

In November 2021, employees at Taqueria Garibaldi in Sacramento, California, began to file a wage theft complaint with the Department of Labor. The employees alleged that they had been underpaid for their work and that they had not been given breaks.

In response to the wage theft complaint, the restaurant owner, Eduardo Hernandez, brought in a man who claimed to be a priest. The man met with employees during work hours and asked them about their personal lives and their work history. He also asked them if they had ever stolen from the restaurant or if they had bad intentions towards the restaurant.

The employees felt that the man was being used to intimidate them. They said that he asked them leading questions and that he made them feel uncomfortable. They also said that they felt like the restaurant was trying to silence them from speaking out about the wage theft.

The Legal Implications

The incident at Taqueria Garibaldi is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The NLRA protects employees’ rights to organize and to speak out about their working conditions. The restaurant’s actions in trying to silence the employees are a clear violation of these rights.

The restaurant has since agreed to a federal settlement after allegations of various labor law violations. The settlement includes a payment of $125,000 to the employees, as well as a requirement that the restaurant provide training to its employees on their rights under the NLRA.

What Can Employees Do?

If you are an employee who is being mistreated by your employer, there are resources available to help you. You can contact the Department of Labor or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for assistance. You can also speak to an attorney who specializes in labor law.

How to Protect Yourself

There are a few things that you can do to protect yourself if you are an employee who is being mistreated by your employer:

  • Know your rights. The NLRA protects your right to organize and to speak out about your working conditions.
  • Document everything. Keep a record of any incidents of mistreatment, including dates, times, and what was said.
  • Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you are being mistreated, don’t be afraid to speak up to your employer or to the Department of Labor.

The incident at Taqueria Garibaldi is a reminder of the lengths that some employers will go to to silence their employees. It is important for employees to know their rights and to be prepared to speak out if they are being mistreated.