NEWS RELEASE: Tan Republic assessed $200K in civil penalties for meal, rest period and sick time violations

[Burr, Charlie]

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For Immediate Release
March 16, 2018
CONTACT:           Charlie Burr, BOLI, (971) 673-0788

Tan Republic assessed $200K in civil penalties for meal, rest period and sick time violations
Wage and hour investigation uncovers more than 1,300 violations

PORTLAND, OR-A local tanning franchise operating Tan Republic stores in Gladstone and Portland must pay more than $200,000 for violations of meal and rest period requirements and Oregon's sick time law, the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) announced today.

The Final Order on Default stems from a wage and hour investigation of meal and rest period violations at its Gladstone and West Burnside Street locations.

During the course of a 31-day period between October 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016, BOLI wage and hour compliance specialists determined that Tan Republic failed to provide 365 meal periods to 40 employees and 941 rest breaks to 44 employees as required by law.

BOLI's Final Order assesses civil penalties of $150 per rest and meal period violation.

In addition, BOLI investigators determined that Tan Republic failed to comply with posting requirements or provide required written notices of employees' accrued and unused sick time, in violation of both Oregon's sick time law and a compliance agreement signed by the company in June 2016.


BOLI initiated the investigation after receiving multiple employee complaints against Lioness Holdings LLC, the now-defunct operator of Tan Republic stores located in Gladstone and on West Burnside Street.

Under Oregon law, employers must provide one 30-minute unpaid meal period to anyone working a shift of six hours or more. Businesses must also provide two paid 10-minute rest breaks in an eight-hour shift and three such breaks in any shift longer than 10 hours.
Previous BOLI wage and hour investigations have helped Tan Republic employees secure unpaid wages. In addition, BOLI tapped its Wage Security Fund this year to assist Tan Republic workers after Lioness Holdings LLC, doing business as Tan Republic, ceased operations without satisfying its wage obligations.

Employees with wage and hour claims or complaints may contact the Wage and Hour Division at (971) 673-0844 or via email at whdemail at boli.state.or.us<mailto:whdemail at boli.state.or.us>. Under Oregon civil rights law, employers may not retaliate against employees for reporting wage violations. Employers seeking compliance guidance may contact the agency's Technical Assistance for Employers hotline at (971) 673-0824. For more information about BOLI's effort to support employers and protect workers, please visit the agency's website at oregon.gov/BOLI/Pages.

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Charlie Burr
Communications Director
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
800 NE Oregon, Ste. 1050
Portland, OR 97232
Tel: 971-673-0788

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