Dunkin' franchisee sued over no-tips policy
An employee has filed a lawsuit against a Dunkin' Donuts franchisee that alleges that the franchisee's no tipping policy violates the Massachusetts Tips Law.
The complaint was filed today in Suffolk Superior Court by Ron Meshna, who works at a Dunkin' Donuts in North Reading owned by the Scrivanos Group, a Dunkin' Donuts franchisee, said Shannon Liss-Riordan, Meshna's attorney; the suit is seeking class action status.
According to Liss-Riordan, the suit filed against Scrivanos Group raises a new issue --- that the Tips Law prohibits an employer from refusing to allow employees to receive tips.
The suit is asking that Meshna and other workers at Dunkin' stores operated by the Scrivanos Group be paid for the tips that they did not receive; the suit asks that a jury determine the amount of those tips.
Attempts to get comment from the Scrivanos Group and its attorney were not immediately successful.
Liss-Riordan has represented workers in lawsuits about tips in the past, including one involving skycaps at Logan International Airport and another involving food service workers at Fenway Park.
