Dock O’ the Bay Owner says his employees will get paid

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FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- The owner of a Fort Myers Beach restaurant that suddenly closed says his employees will get paid.

WINK News first broke this story Thursday night on the Nightbeat. Only WINK News spoke to the owner of the Dock O’ the Bay who says paychecks will go out on payday.

Three days after Dock O’ the Bay closed, employees are still wondering when, and if, they will get paid. WINK News stopped by and saw a crew cleaning at the restaurant.

“It was interesting, I was scheduled to come in a five and around 2:30 I got a text from a co-worker who said not to come in because we are closed,” said former server Bruce Kirchner.

WINK News got a hold of Dock O’ the Bay owner Jack Dawson. He did not want to go on camera, but gave us a statement saying, the people that are owed money will get paid when they are suppose to get paid, on payday. Employees say payday is next Wednesday.

Dawson sent one of the servers a message Thursday night saying they will get paid.

“I’ll believe it when I see it. One. Two, I will believe it when it actually cashes,” said Kirchner.

The restaurant has only been open a little over five months. The owner tells WINK News, the restaurant wasn’t getting the business they thought they would, but servers disagree.

“We opened up and started making profits immediately, that’s unheard of. This restaurant was doing really well for the entire season,” said Keith Phillips.

Dawson says his manager called staff on Tuesday and told them not to come in. Employees say that’s not true, the restaurant was open for business Tuesday and it was shut down midday.

“You have that gone all the sudden and people are disappointed.”

WINK News talked to a Fort Myers employment attorney who says the business owner has until the next regular pay period to pay employees. If that date passes, employees could sue the owner.

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