Unpaid Wage Cases in Charleston, Illinois
Since 2005 the U.S. Department of Labor has found $198K in back wages owed to 182 workers by Charleston employers, in 17 cases. Unpaid overtime accounts for 73% of it. The industry with the most back wages is full-service restaurants.
What workers weren't paid
2 cases involved child labor violations, covering 3 minors.
Industries
Cases with back wages by year
Largest back-wage cases
El Rancherito of Charleston 819 West Lincoln Avenue
$60,397 in back wages to 13 workers
Full-Service Restaurants · period investigated Jul 2001–Jan 2011
Los Potrillos Mexican Restaurant 1305 Lincoln Ave
$44,160 in back wages to 23 workers · $8,289 in penalties
Full-Service Restaurants · period investigated Mar 2016–Oct 2017 · repeat violator: R
Los Potrillos, Inc. - Charleston, Illinois 1305 Lincoln
$41,235 in back wages to 28 workers
Full-Service Restaurants · period investigated Apr 2010–Apr 2012
University Estates 775 W. Elm
$29,539 in back wages to 7 workers
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property · period investigated Nov 2008–Nov 2010
Arby's 1520 4th Street
$12,640 in back wages to 30 workers
Limited-Service Restaurants · period investigated Aug 2004–May 2005
Arby's 310 Lincoln Ave.
$2,646 in back wages to 5 workers · $1,320 in penalties · 3 child labor violations
Limited-Service Restaurants · period investigated Jul 2003–May 2005 · repeat violator: R
The Graywood Foundation 1380 Beech Tree Rd
$2,124 in back wages to 46 workers
Other Social Advocacy Organizations · period investigated Oct 2002–Oct 2004
Dr. Renu Bajaj 901 W. Lincoln
$1,817 in back wages to 6 workers
Offices of Physicians · period investigated Nov 2002–Nov 2004
Touching Grounds Podiatry 2111 18th St
$1,672 in back wages to 1 worker
Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) · period investigated Nov 2004–Nov 2006 · repeat violator: R
Hilltop Nursing Home 910 W. Polk
$570 in back wages to 12 workers
Local Nursing Homes · period investigated Apr 2004–Apr 2006
Most recent cases
Vesuvius, USA period ending Aug 2021
1 violation, no back wages · Clay Refractory Manufacturing
All Ways Caring HomeCare period ending May 2020
1 violation, no back wages · Home Health Care Services
Huck's Food and Fuel period ending Dec 2019
1 violation, no back wages · Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
Los Potrillos Mexican Restaurant period ending Oct 2017
$44,160 in back wages to 23 workers · $8,289 in penalties · Full-Service Restaurants
Inyart Tire & Auto Center period ending May 2017
$438 in back wages to 3 workers · Tire Dealers
CCAR Industries period ending Jan 2017
$13 in back wages to 1 worker · Local Sheltered Workshops
Los Potrillos, Inc. period ending Mar 2016
1 violation, no back wages · Full-Service Restaurants
Los Potrillos, Inc. - Charleston, Illinois period ending Apr 2012
$41,235 in back wages to 28 workers · Full-Service Restaurants
L.D. Mechanical of Illinois, Inc. period ending Apr 2011
$187 in back wages to 1 worker · 1 child labor violation · Residential Building Construction
El Rancherito of Charleston period ending Jan 2011
$60,397 in back wages to 13 workers · Full-Service Restaurants
University Estates period ending Nov 2010
$29,539 in back wages to 7 workers · Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
Touching Grounds Podiatry period ending Nov 2006
$1,672 in back wages to 1 worker · Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)
Regional Office of Education period ending Aug 2006
$343 in back wages to 1 worker · Local School Boards or Districts
Hilltop Nursing Home period ending Apr 2006
$570 in back wages to 12 workers · Local Nursing Homes
Graywood Enterprises, Inc. period ending Sep 2005
$209 in back wages to 2 workers · Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Arby's period ending May 2005
$12,640 in back wages to 30 workers · Limited-Service Restaurants
Arby's period ending May 2005
$2,646 in back wages to 5 workers · $1,320 in penalties · 3 child labor violations · Limited-Service Restaurants
Dr. Renu Bajaj period ending Nov 2004
$1,817 in back wages to 6 workers · Offices of Physicians
El Rancherito of Charleston period ending Oct 2004
$55 in back wages to 2 workers · Full-Service Restaurants
The Graywood Foundation period ending Oct 2004
$2,124 in back wages to 46 workers · Other Social Advocacy Organizations
If you weren't paid what you're owed
Federal law requires at least the minimum wage and time-and-a-half for hours over 40 a week for most hourly workers, and many states set higher minimums. You can file a free, confidential complaint with the Wage and Hour Division or your state labor department, and you can also sue to recover unpaid wages, often with an equal amount in damages and your attorney fees. Deadlines are generally two to three years under federal law.
Labor and employment lawyers in Illinois
Lawbamba lists 20 labor and employment lawyers with an office in Illinois, the practice area that deals with the wage theft cases on this page. These 4 come first in that listing (how the order is set).
Matched by practice area and office location only. These lawyers are not connected to the records on this page and have not reviewed or endorsed it.
Owed wages by a Charleston employer?
Compare employment lawyers in IllinoisOther Illinois cities
- Chicago
$41.8M · 34,621 workers - Springfield
$7M · 29,824 workers - Peoria
$4.2M · 4,900 workers - Naperville
$2.7M · 1,634 workers - Schaumburg
$2.5M · 2,500 workers - Elgin
$2.2M · 1,931 workers - Arlington Heights
$2.1M · 596 workers - Bensenville
$2M · 856 workers
Source: the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division enforcement data (every concluded compliance action since fiscal year 2005), from the DOL Open Data Portal, loaded November 9, 2026. “Back wages” is the amount employers agreed to pay workers after an investigation found they were underpaid; dates are the end of the period the investigation covered. Employer names and addresses are as DOL publishes them. Federal cases only: state labor departments and private lawsuits recover more that isn't counted here.
Lawbamba is not affiliated with the Department of Labor, and this page is general information, not legal advice.