South Carolina Arby's, KFC workers get $32K+ in back pay, Dept. of Labor says

GREENVILLE, SC (WCIV) — The operator of over two dozen fast food restaurants in South Carolina and Georgia has paid employees at its restaurants $32,797 in back wages, the U.S. Department of Labor revealed Tuesday.

The DOL says franchiser Whiteford's Inc., of Greenville, paid the back wages to 298 employees, after an investigation revealed Whiteford's violated federal minimum wage and overtime laws.

The agency says Whiteford's illegally set overtime rates lower than it should've, resulting in lower pay for some staff.

Additionally, labor department agents said the company deducted uniform costs from employees' wages, causing workers' hourly wages to dip below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Whiteford's operates 30 Kentucky Fried Chicken and Arby's restaurants in South Carolina and Georgia.