Lawsuit filed against popular metro Atlanta restaurant for unpaid wages, overtime, and retaliatory firings

A well-known restaurant in the metro Atlanta area is facing legal action in the form of a class-action lawsuit over claims of unpaid wages, lack of overtime compensation, and alleged retaliatory terminations. Rumi’s Kitchen, located in Sandy Springs with other branches in Alpharetta, Houston, Texas, and the District of Columbia, has come under fire due to these accusations. The Sandy Springs outlet is currently closed for renovations but is expected to reopen soon.

Joan Ruiz, a former employee of Rumi’s Kitchen, initiated the lawsuit against the restaurant and its chief operating officer, Stephen Kaplan, citing that he and numerous other employees were not compensated as per their employment agreements. Instead of receiving payment for 40-hour workweeks plus overtime, the lawsuit asserts that employees were required to work 70 to 80 hours weekly without receiving the appropriate overtime pay.

Additionally, the legal action alleges the existence of an improper tip-sharing policy within the restaurant establishment. This policy mandated tipped employees to share up to 28% of their gratuities with back-of-house staff, like cooks and cleaning personnel. According to Ruiz, who worked at Rumi’s Kitchen from December 2024 to February 2025, these alleged practices of not paying for overtime and the tip-sharing arrangement were commonplace during his tenure.

When employees voiced their concerns about the unremunerated overtime, the legal filing claims that the company took retaliatory measures by reducing work hours, terminating employment, or altering work schedules of the complainants. Channel 2 Action News attempted to reach out to Rumi’s Kitchen for a statement on the matter but received no response.

The lawsuit has shone a light on potential labor violations that may have occurred within the eatery, leaving questions unanswered about the alleged unlawful employment practices. The absence of commentary from the restaurant’s representatives further compounds the mystery surrounding the lawsuit. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how the allegations against Rumi’s Kitchen will be addressed and whether justice will be served for the affected employees.

In the realm of labor disputes and workplace grievances, cases like the one involving Rumi’s Kitchen underscore the importance of fair compensation practices and ethical employment conduct. It is a stark reminder of the responsibilities that companies bear towards their employees and the consequences they may face if they fail to uphold these obligations. The battle for justice in the workplace continues, with lawsuits like the one against Rumi’s Kitchen shedding light on potential malpractices and injustices that demand scrutiny and rectification.