Boston Michelin-recommended restaurant sued by staff who claim wage theft

La Padrona, an upscale Italian restaurant in Boston’s Back Bay and recently recognized by the Michelin Guide, is being sued by three employees – a bartender and two servers – who claim they were unfairly deprived of tips. The class-action lawsuit alleges that the restaurant forced staff to share tips with managers and “bussers” who do not directly interact with customers, violating Massachusetts law. According to the complaint, bussers, who primarily polish silverware, and servers designated as “Captains” with managerial duties were included in the tip pool despite not providing direct customer service. One server, Clara Herman, stated her concerns about receiving tips as a manager were dismissed. Kelsey MacKinnon, the bartender, expressed the desire for fair compensation, stating, “We want what we worked for, and we want it to be fair.” A Street Hospitality, the restaurant’s owner, stated they are reviewing the lawsuit and committed to a fair workplace. La Padrona is one of several restaurants operated by A Street Hospitality, and its Michelin recommendation was described as “surreal” by the company’s CEO, Eric Papachristos, due to the restaurant’s size.

(Source：MassLive)