The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division of Connecticut and Rhode Island investigated the Marrocco Group, four restaurants, two bar/lounges and a boutique hotel owned by Gianfranco Marrocco.

An extensive review of payroll records revealed numerous payment schemes that resulted in violations of the overtime and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act at the seven locations. The firm failed to pay cooks and dishwashers time and a half for hours worked beyond forty in a workweek. Some payrolls showed two different entries for hours worked (20 hours at straight time and 25 hours at straight time, rather than 45 hours), or straight time of 40 hours and a payroll entry of 'OTHER' that equaled hours over 40 at straight time. In other cases, pay for hours over 40 was paid in cash, "off the books". This investigation was part of an ongoing multiyear education and enforcement initiative by the Wage and Hour Division's Hartford district office to improve compliance in the Connecticut and Rhode Island restaurant industries. 

Gianfranco Marrocco and the businesses have agreed to pay 146 employees $151,643.65 in back wages and $151,643.65 in liquidated damages for a total of $303,287.30. The investigation was conducted by the Wage and Hour Division's Providence Area Office.