FA Consulting, LLC

07/07/2026

July Compliance Tip for Restaurants:

Why Mid‑Summer Is Prime Time for Child‑Labor Violations July is one of the busiest months for restaurants — extended summer hours, heavier tourist traffic, and a surge of young workers eager to pick up shifts. It’s also the month when the U.S. Department of Labor sees the highest spike in child‑labor violations, especially in food service. For restaurant owners, this makes July the perfect moment to pause and review youth‑employment practices before small scheduling mistakes turn into costly WHD penalties....

https://Frank-Alvarado.com/july-compliance-tip-for-restaurants/

06/03/2026

How to Calculate Overtime for Tipped Employees: Avoid Common Tip Credit Mistakes

June Compliance Tip: Are You Calculating Overtime Correctly for Tipped Employees? For restaurants, hotels, bars, and other hospitality employers, tipped employees remain one of the most common sources of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations. During investigations, one payroll issue appears repeatedly: overtime is calculated incorrectly when a tip credit is taken. Many employers assume that overtime should be based on the employee's cash wage or on total earnings including tips....

June Compliance Tip: Are You Calculating Overtime Correctly for Tipped Employees? For restaurants, hotels, bars, and other hospitality employers, tipped employees remain one of the most common sources of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations. During investigations, one payroll issue appears rep...

05/28/2026

Guide to Davis-Bacon Compliance

Guide to Davis‑Bacon Act Compliance By Frank Alvarado, Senior Consultant | FA Consulting LLC April 2026 Prevailing wage compliance is a critical responsibility on every federally funded construction project. Introduction If you are a contractor or subcontractor working on federally funded or federally assisted construction projects, the Davis‑Bacon Act is not optional — it is the law. And the consequences of non-compliance are severe: contract payment withholding, back-wage liability, contract termination, and debarment from future federal contracts for up to three years....

Guide to Davis‑Bacon Act Compliance By Frank Alvarado, Senior Consultant | FA Consulting LLC April 2026 Prevailing wage compliance is a critical responsibility on every federally funded construction project. Introduction If you are a contractor or subcontractor working on federally funded or feder...

05/13/2026

Guide to SCA Compliance

Guide to SCA Compliance Check this guide to SCA compliance, If your company performs services for the federal government — janitorial, security, food service, IT support, building maintenance, call center work, healthcare support, grounds keeping, or any other service — you are almost certainly subject to the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA). And unlike many federal regulations, SCA compliance isn't something you can figure out as you go....

04/27/2026

What Restaurant Owners Need to Know About FLSA Section 207(i) and Service Charges

What Restaurant Owners Need to Know About FLSA Section 207(i) and Service Charges By Frank Alvarado, Senior Consultant | FA Consulting LLCApril 2026 · 10-minute read For restaurants that levy mandatory service charges, FLSA Section 207(i) offers a powerful — and legal — path to overtime savings. Introduction If you own or manage a full-service restaurant, you already know that labor costs are your single largest expense — and overtime pay can take an outsized bite....

04/27/2026

Common FLSA Violations in Restaurants | Wage & Hour Guide

The Most Common FLSA Violations in the Restaurant Industry Introduction Restaurants face some of the highest enforcement activity under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Wage and hour violations are often unintentional, but they can still lead to costly back wages, penalties, and DOL investigations. According to recent enforcement summaries, the most common restaurant violations involve tip credit misuse, unpaid overtime, off‑the‑clock work, misclassification, minimum wage issues, and poor recordkeeping…...

04/20/2026

How to Prepare for a DOL Audit | Wage & Hour Compliance Guide

Introduction A DOL Wage & Hour investigation can be stressful, disruptive, and expensive — especially if you’re unprepared. The good news is that most violations are preventable with proactive compliance. As a former Wage & Hour Investigator, I’ve seen the difference preparation makes in reducing liability and improving outcomes. This guide explains how employers can prepare for a DOL audit before it happens....

04/20/2026

Understanding the Regular Rate | FLSA Overtime Compliance Guide

Introduction The “regular rate” is one of the most misunderstood — and most frequently violated — parts of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers often assume the regular rate is simply the hourly rate. In reality, it includes almost all compensation, and mistakes can lead to significant back wages during a DOL investigation. As a former Wage & Hour Investigator, I’ve seen regular rate errors in nearly every industry....

04/20/2026

H‑2A Compliance Checklist 2026 | Agricultural Employer Guide

Introduction The H‑2A program provides essential labor support for agricultural employers, but it also carries some of the strictest compliance requirements enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor. As a former Wage & Hour Investigator, I’ve seen firsthand how easily employers can fall out of compliance — often without realizing it. This 2026 H‑2A compliance checklist is designed to help growers, farm labor contractors, and agricultural employers stay compliant, avoid violations, and prepare for potential DOL investigations....

04/20/2026

Top 10 FLSA Mistakes Employers Make | Wage & Hour Compliance Guide

Introduction The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is one of the most frequently violated labor laws in the United States. Even well‑intentioned employers make mistakes that lead to costly back wages, penalties, and multi‑year liability. As a former U.S. Department of Labor Wage & Hour Investigator, I’ve seen the same errors repeated across industries — and most of them are preventable....