Las Vegas Soul Food Restaurant Ordered to Pay Worker $2,100 in Back Wages

The State Office of the Labor Commissioner issued a notice of claim after a former server alleged the restaurant withheld tips owed to her.

Nevada's State Office of the Labor Commissioner is investigating a Las Vegas soul food restaurant and ordering it to pay a former employee back wages by May 5. A notice of claim letter dated April 20 states that "back wages in the amount of $2,100 appear due" to former worker Mariah Hills, who alleged that Stuff My Turkey, located off Sahara Avenue, withheld tips she was owed during her employment.

Former Employee Alleges Tips Were Withheld

Hills worked at Stuff My Turkey from mid-July through April 11 and said she believes her former employer held out on tips owed to her. She contacted local news to raise awareness of her situation, saying she was initially uncertain how to report the alleged wage theft.

"I wasn't sure about how to go about reporting my wages being taken," Hills said. She added that she never signed any document acknowledging the restaurant's tip pool policy, and that she would have sought a different server job had she known about it in advance.

Tip Pool Policy at the Center of the Dispute

Stuff My Turkey operates a tip pool, which is legal under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The restaurant's policy takes 25% of front-of-house workers' credit card tips. Hills described that percentage as "a pretty big chunk."

Henry Crockett, one of the restaurant's owners, responded to the allegations by presenting a document signed by the restaurant's newest hire that specifically outlines the tip pool policy. Crockett acknowledged the dispute over whether Hills had signed such a form. "If she did not sign a form, then we will have to operate accordingly. If she did, then we'll have the paperwork to provide," Crockett said.

Labor Commissioner Sets May 5 Deadline

The State Office of the Labor Commissioner issued a notice of claim letter on April 20 directing Stuff My Turkey to pay the back wages. The deadline set in that letter is May 5.

The investigation centers on whether Hills was properly informed of and consented to the tip pool arrangement, and whether the withheld amounts constitute wages legally owed to her. The outcome may hinge on whether the restaurant can produce documentation showing Hills acknowledged the policy.

What we know

• The State Office of the Labor Commissioner issued a notice of claim letter dated April 20 stating that back wages of $2,100 appear due to former Stuff My Turkey employee Mariah Hills.
• The restaurant has been given until May 5 to pay the back wages.
• Hills worked at Stuff My Turkey, located off Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas, from mid-July until April 11.
• Stuff My Turkey's tip pool policy takes 25% of front-of-house workers' credit card tips, which is legal under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Hills said she never signed any document acknowledging the tip pool policy.
• Owner Henry Crockett presented a document signed by the restaurant's newest hire outlining the tip pool policy and said the restaurant would act accordingly depending on whether Hills signed such a form.

Why it matters

Tip pool disputes affect thousands of service industry workers across Las Vegas, one of the most tip-dependent labor markets in the country. This case highlights the importance of written disclosure when employers implement tip-sharing arrangements. Whether or not a worker has signed documentation acknowledging such a policy can determine their legal recourse. The Labor Commissioner's involvement signals that state regulators are actively monitoring wage compliance in the restaurant sector, and the outcome of this case could serve as a reference point for similar disputes in the region.

What’s next

The State Office of the Labor Commissioner has set a May 5 deadline for Stuff My Turkey to pay the $2,100 in back wages identified in the April 20 notice of claim. The resolution of the dispute may depend on whether the restaurant can produce documentation showing Hills was informed of and agreed to the tip pool policy prior to her employment.

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