Restaurant workers at three Brooklyn restaurants picketed on Monday, after they say the owners threatened to fire them if they didn't sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The restaurants are Polly's Café – which has two locations - and Ouma Bakery, in Prospect Lefferts Garden.
A former employee spoke with News 12 about what she called "abusive behavior" by the owners.
“It’s owners who have the means attacking workers who they know do not," said the former worker, who asked to remain anonymous.
She says the red flags were apparent from the beginning, but she desperately needed a job.
“There was rat poop everywhere, there were plumbing pipes that carry toilet water from the apartments above exposed, right where the baker makes the items,” she said.
She said employees came to her all the time to complain about not receiving breaks and their automatic clock-out system.
“Working in hospitality, you know that you are not always going to leave when your shift ends - these baristas were continuing to work, and they are not being paid,” the employee said.
Employees say their frustrations have been building for months, but it all boiled over in April when they were told they would have to sign an NDA.
“Which is only in place to give the employees fear of speaking out about the abuse,” she said.
On Monday, both past and current employees of all three shops picketed outside Ouma's Bakery.
In an email, the owners said they will be dropping the NDA requirement for employees.
When News 12 brought up the other concerns employees have, like no breaks and automatic clock out, they said in part, “This is really a non-issue. All employees are paid for all time worked, always. Any timekeeping systems or automations are operational tools, not mechanisms to avoid paying employees for hours worked, and we take wage compliance extremely seriously.”
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