BAH Brazilian Steakhouse ordered to pay more than $3,000 in wages owed after coronavirus closure

The U.S. Department of Labor has ordered BAH Brazilian Steakhouse on Des Moines' Ingersoll Avenue to pay more than $3,000 in back wages after the restaurant closed suddenly in March, denying employees their final paycheck.

According to a Friday news release, an investigation by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found BAH violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by withholding payroll after Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered restaurants to close their dining rooms March 17. BAH paid 14 employees $3,059 in back wages. 

COVID-19 is not a valid excuse for employers to withhold wages, Wage and Hour District Director Marcy Boldman said in the release.

“If employees performed work for their employer, the employer is still legally obligated to pay those employees on payday,” Boldman said.

It is unclear if BAH, which opened in November 2018, has permanently closed or temporarily shut its doors because of coronavirus restrictions.

According to the Department of Labor release, restaurant owners initially posted a sign that BAH was closed permanently, then amended the sign to say it was closed temporarily because of the pandemic. But on Friday afternoon, well after restaurants were allowed to reopen at 50% capacity locally, the curtains were drawn and doors were locked at BAH. Through the darkened windows, tables could be seen, set but empty. 

BAH has removed its Facebook page, but the website remains with no mention of closures or COVID-19. BAH management did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Staff writer Sarah LeBlanc contributed reporting.

Katie Akin is a retail reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com or at 515-284-8041. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

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