PART 23—INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; section 4, E.O. 14026, 86 FR 22835; Secretary's Order 01-2014, 79 FR 77527. Source: 86 FR 67224, Nov. 24, 2021, unless otherwise noted. Subpart A—General § 23.10 Purpose and scope. (a) Purpose. (b) Policy. (1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and (2) Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary) pursuant to the Order. Nothing in Executive Order 14026 or this part shall excuse noncompliance with any applicable Federal or state prevailing wage law or any applicable law or municipal ordinance establishing a minimum wage higher than the minimum wage established under the Order. (c) Scope. et seq., et seq. § 23.20 Definitions. For purposes of this part: Administrative Review Board (ARB or Board) Administrator Agency head Concessions contract contract for concessions concessions contract Contract contract-like instrument contract contract contract Contracting officer Contractor contractor contractor employer contractor subcontractor Davis-Bacon Act et seq., Executive departments and agencies Executive Order 13658 Executive Order 14026 minimum wage (1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and (2) Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary pursuant to section 2 of the Executive Order. Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) et seq., Federal Government New contract new contract (1) The contract is renewed; (2) The contract is extended; or (3) An option on the contract is exercised. Office of Administrative Law Judges Option Procurement contract for construction procurement contract for construction Procurement contract for services procurement contract for services Service Contract Act et seq., Solicitation Tipped employee United States United States Wage and Hour Division Wage determination Worker worker § 23.30 Coverage. (a) This part applies to any new contract, as defined in § 23.20, with the Federal Government, unless excluded by § 23.40, provided that: (1)(i) It is a procurement contract for construction covered by the Davis-Bacon Act; (ii) It is a contract for services covered by the Service Contract Act; (iii) It is a contract for concessions, including any concessions contract excluded from coverage under the Service Contract Act by Department of Labor regulations at 29 CFR 4.133(b); or (iv) It is a contract entered into with the Federal Government in connection with Federal property or lands and related to offering services for Federal employees, their dependents, or the general public; and (2) The wages of workers under such contract are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, or the Davis-Bacon Act. (b) For contracts covered by the Service Contract Act or the Davis-Bacon Act, this part applies to prime contracts only at the thresholds specified in those statutes. For procurement contracts where workers' wages are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, this part applies when the prime contract exceeds the micro-purchase threshold, as defined in 41 U.S.C. 1902(a). (c) This part only applies to contracts with the Federal Government requiring performance in whole or in part within the United States, which when used in a geographic sense in this part means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Outer Continental Shelf lands as defined in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, and Johnston Island. If a contract with the Federal Government is to be performed in part within and in part outside the United States and is otherwise covered by the Executive Order and this part, the minimum wage requirements of the Order and this part would apply with respect to that part of the contract that is performed within the United States. (d) This part does not apply to contracts for the manufacturing or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment to the Federal Government, including those that are subject to the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act, 41 U.S.C. 6501 et seq. § 23.40 Exclusions. (a) Grants. et seq. (b) Contracts or agreements with Indian Tribes. et seq. (c) Procurement contracts for construction that are excluded from coverage of the Davis-Bacon Act. (d) Contracts for services that are exempted from coverage under the Service Contract Act. (e) Employees who are exempt from the minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act under 29 U.S.C. 213(a) and 214(a)-(b). (1) Learners, apprentices, or messengers. (2) Students. (3) Individuals employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity. (f) FLSA-covered workers performing in connection with covered contracts for less than 20 percent of their work hours in a given workweek. i.e., i.e., (g) Contracts that result from a solicitation issued before January 30, 2022, and that are entered into on or between January 30, 2022 and March 30, 2022. § 23.50 Minimum wage for Federal contractors and subcontractors. (a) General. (1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and (2) Beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary pursuant to section 2 of Executive Order 14026. In accordance with section 2 of the Order, the Secretary will determine the applicable minimum wage rate to be paid to workers performing on or in connection with covered contracts on an annual basis beginning at least 90 days before any new minimum wage is to take effect. (b) Method for determining the applicable Executive Order minimum wage for workers. (1) $15.00 per hour beginning January 30, 2022; and (2) An amount determined by the Secretary, beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter. The applicable minimum wage determined for each calendar year by the Secretary shall be: (i) Not less than the amount in effect on the date of such determination; (ii) Increased from such amount by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (United States city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted), or its successor publication, as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and (iii) Rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05. In calculating the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for purposes of this section, the Secretary shall compare such Consumer Price Index for the most recent year available with the Consumer Price Index for the preceding year. (c) Relation to other laws. (d) Relation to Executive Order 13658. § 23.60 Antiretaliation. It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any worker because such worker has filed any complaint or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to Executive Order 14026 or this part, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding. § 23.70 Waiver of rights. Workers cannot waive, nor may contractors induce workers to waive, their rights under Executive Order 14026 or this part. § 23.80 Severability. If any provision of this part is held to be invalid or unenforceable by its terms, or as applied to any person or circumstance, or stayed pending further agency action, the provision shall be construed so as to continue to give the maximum effect to the provision permitted by law, unless such holding shall be one of utter invalidity or unenforceability, in which event the provision shall be severable from this part and shall not affect the remainder thereof. Subpart B—Federal Government Requirements § 23.110 Contracting agency requirements. (a) Contract clause. (b) Failure to include the contract clause. (c) Withholding. (d) Actions on complaints Reporting Reporting time frame. (ii) Report contents. (A) Complaint of contractor noncompliance with Executive Order 14026 or this part; (B) Available statements by the worker, contractor, or any other person regarding the alleged violation; (C) Evidence that the Executive Order minimum wage contract clause was included in the contract; (D) Information concerning known settlement negotiations between the parties, if applicable; and (E) Any other relevant facts known to the contracting agency or other information requested by the Wage and Hour Division. (2) [Reserved] § 23.120 Department of Labor requirements. (a) In general. (b) Method for determining the applicable Executive Order minimum wage. (c) Notice Timing of notification. (2) Method of notification Federal Register. Federal Register (ii) Website. https://alpha.sam.gov/content/wage-determinations, (iii) Wage determinations. (iv) Other means as appropriate. (d) Notification to a contractor of the withholding of funds. Subpart C—Contractor Requirements § 23.210 Contract clause. (a) Contract clause. (b) Flow-down requirement. § 23.220 Rate of pay. (a) General. (b) Workers who receive fringe benefits. (c) Tipped employees. § 23.230 Deductions. The contractor may make deductions that reduce a worker's wages below the Executive Order minimum wage rate only if such deduction qualifies as a: (a) Deduction required by Federal, state, or local law, such as Federal or state withholding of income taxes; (b) Deduction for payments made to third parties pursuant to court order; (c) Deduction directed by a voluntary assignment of the worker or his or her authorized representative; or (d) Deduction for the reasonable cost or fair value, as determined by the Administrator, of furnishing such worker with “board, lodging, or other facilities,” as defined in 29 U.S.C. 203(m)(1) and part 531 of this title. § 23.240 Overtime payments. (a) General. (b) Tipped employees. see see See § 23.250 Frequency of pay. Wage payments to workers shall be made no later than one pay period following the end of the regular pay period in which such wages were earned or accrued. A pay period under Executive Order 14026 may not be of any duration longer than semi-monthly. § 23.260 Records to be kept by contractors. (a) Records. (1) Name, address, and social security number of each worker; (2) The worker's occupation(s) or classification(s); (3) The rate or rates of wages paid; (4) The number of daily and weekly hours worked by each worker; (5) Any deductions made; and (6) The total wages paid. (b) Interviews. (c) Other recordkeeping obligations. § 23.270 Anti-kickback. All wages paid to workers performing on or in connection with covered contracts must be paid free and clear and without subsequent deduction (except as set forth in § 23.230), rebate, or kickback on any account. Kickbacks directly or indirectly to the employer or to another person for the employer's benefit for the whole or part of the wage are prohibited. § 23.280 Tipped employees. (a) Payment of wages to tipped employees. (1) An hourly cash wage of at least: (i) $10.50 an hour beginning on January 30, 2022; (ii) Beginning January 1, 2023, 85 percent of the wage in effect under section 2 of the Executive Order, rounded to the nearest multiple of $0.05; (iii) Beginning January 1, 2024, and for each subsequent year, 100 percent of the wage in effect under section 2 of the Executive Order; and (2) An additional amount on account of the tips received by such employee (tip credit) which amount is equal to the difference between the hourly cash wage in paragraph (a)(1) of this section and the wage in effect under section 2 of the Executive Order. Where tipped employees do not receive a sufficient amount of tips in the workweek to equal the amount of the tip credit, the employer must increase the cash wage paid for the workweek under paragraph (a)(1) of this section so that the amount of the cash wage paid and the tips received by the employee equal the minimum wage under section 2 of the Executive Order. (3) An employer may pay a higher cash wage than required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section and take a lower tip credit but may not pay a lower cash wage than required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section and take a greater tip credit. In order for the employer to claim a tip credit, the employer must demonstrate that the worker received at least the amount of the credit claimed in actual tips. If the worker received less than the claimed tip credit amount in tips during the workweek, the employer is required to pay the balance on the regular payday so that the worker receives the wage in effect under section 2 of the Executive Order with the defined combination of wages and tips. (4) If the cash wage required to be paid under the Service Contract Act, 41 U.S.C. 6701 et seq., (b) Requirements with respect to tipped employees. § 23.290 Notice. (a) The contractor must notify all workers performing work on or in connection with a covered contract of the applicable minimum wage rate under the Executive Order. With respect to service employees on contracts covered by the Service Contract Act and laborers and mechanics on contracts covered by the Davis-Bacon Act, the contractor may meet the requirement in this paragraph (a) by posting, in a prominent and accessible place at the worksite, the applicable wage determination under those statutes. (b) With respect to workers performing work on or in connection with a covered contract whose wages are governed by the FLSA, the contractor must post a notice provided by the Department of Labor in a prominent and accessible place at the worksite so it may be readily seen by workers. (c) Contractors that customarily post notices to workers electronically may post the notice electronically, provided such electronic posting is displayed prominently on any website that is maintained by the contractor, whether external or internal, and customarily used for notices to workers about terms and conditions of employment. Subpart D—Enforcement § 23.410 Complaints. (a) Filing a complaint. (b) Confidentiality. see § 23.420 Wage and Hour Division conciliation. After receipt of a complaint, the Administrator may seek to resolve the matter through conciliation. § 23.430 Wage and Hour Division investigation. The Administrator may investigate possible violations of the Executive Order or this part either as the result of a complaint or at any time on his or her own initiative. As part of the investigation, the Administrator may conduct interviews with the relevant contractor, as well as the contractor's workers at the worksite during normal work hours; inspect the relevant contractor's records (including contract documents and payrolls, if applicable); make copies and transcriptions of such records; and require the production of any documentary or other evidence the Administrator deems necessary to determine whether a violation, including conduct warranting imposition of debarment, has occurred. Federal agencies and contractors shall cooperate with any authorized representative of the Department of Labor in the inspection of records, in interviews with workers, and in all aspects of investigations. § 23.440 Remedies and sanctions. (a) Unpaid wages. (b) Antiretaliation. (c) Debarment. (d) Civil action to recover greater underpayments than those withheld. (e) Retroactive inclusion of contract clause. Subpart E—Administrative Proceedings § 23.510 Disputes concerning contractor compliance. (a) This section sets forth the procedure for resolution of disputes of fact or law concerning a contractor's compliance with subpart C of this part. The procedures in this section may be initiated upon the Administrator's own motion or upon request of the contractor. (b)(1) In the event of a dispute described in paragraph (a) of this section in which it appears that relevant facts are at issue, the Administrator will notify the affected contractor(s) and the prime contractor (if different) of the investigative findings by certified mail to the last known address. (2) A contractor desiring a hearing concerning the Administrator's investigative findings letter shall request such a hearing by letter postmarked within 30 calendar days of the date of the Administrator's letter. The request shall set forth those findings which are in dispute with respect to the violations and/or debarment, as appropriate, and explain how the findings are in dispute, including by making reference to any affirmative defenses. (3) Upon receipt of a timely request for a hearing, the Administrator shall refer the case to the Chief Administrative Law Judge by Order of Reference, to which shall be attached a copy of the investigative findings letter from the Administrator and response thereto, for designation to an Administrative Law Judge to conduct such hearings as may be necessary to resolve the disputed matters. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 6. (c)(1) In the event of a dispute described in paragraph (a) of this section in which it appears that there are no relevant facts at issue, and where there is not at that time reasonable cause to institute debarment proceedings under § 23.520, the Administrator shall notify the contractor(s) of the investigation findings by certified mail to the last known address, and shall issue a ruling in the investigative findings letter on any issues of law known to be in dispute. (2)(i) If the contractor disagrees with the factual findings of the Administrator or believes that there are relevant facts in dispute, the contractor shall so advise the Administrator by letter postmarked within 30 calendar days of the date of the Administrator's letter. In the response, the contractor shall explain in detail the facts alleged to be in dispute and attach any supporting documentation. (ii) Upon receipt of a timely response under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section alleging the existence of a factual dispute, the Administrator shall examine the information submitted. If the Administrator determines that there is a relevant issue of fact, the Administrator shall refer the case to the Chief Administrative Law Judge in accordance with paragraph (b)(3) of this section. If the Administrator determines that there is no relevant issue of fact, the Administrator shall so rule and advise the contractor accordingly. (3) If the contractor desires review of the ruling issued by the Administrator under paragraph (c)(1) or (c)(2)(ii) of this section, the contractor shall file a petition for review thereof with the Administrative Review Board postmarked within 30 calendar days of the date of the ruling, with a copy thereof to the Administrator. The petition for review shall be filed in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 7. (d) If a timely response to the Administrator's investigative findings letter is not made or a timely petition for review is not filed, the Administrator's investigative findings letter shall become the final order of the Secretary. If a timely response or petition for review is filed, the Administrator's letter shall be inoperative unless and until the decision is upheld by the Administrative Law Judge or the Administrative Review Board, or otherwise becomes a final order of the Secretary. § 23.520 Debarment proceedings. (a) Whenever any contractor is found by the Secretary of Labor to have disregarded its obligations to workers or subcontractors under Executive Order 14026 or this part, such contractor and its responsible officers, and any firm, corporation, partnership, or association in which such contractor or responsible officers have an interest, shall be ineligible for a period of up to three years to receive any contracts or subcontracts subject to Executive Order 14026 from the date of publication of the name or names of the contractor or persons on the ineligible list. (b)(1) Whenever the Administrator finds reasonable cause to believe that a contractor has committed a violation of Executive Order 14026 or this part which constitutes a disregard of its obligations to workers or subcontractors, the Administrator shall notify by certified mail to the last known address, the contractor and its responsible officers (and any firms, corporations, partnerships, or associations in which the contractor or responsible officers are known to have an interest), of the finding. The Administrator shall afford such contractor and any other parties notified an opportunity for a hearing as to whether debarment action should be taken under Executive Order 14026 or this part. The Administrator shall furnish to those notified a summary of the investigative findings. If the contractor or any other parties notified wish to request a hearing as to whether debarment action should be taken, such a request shall be made by letter to the Administrator postmarked within 30 calendar days of the date of the investigative findings letter from the Administrator, and shall set forth any findings which are in dispute and the reasons therefor, including any affirmative defenses to be raised. Upon receipt of such timely request for a hearing, the Administrator shall refer the case to the Chief Administrative Law Judge by Order of Reference, to which shall be attached a copy of the investigative findings letter from the Administrator and the response thereto, for designation of an Administrative Law Judge to conduct such hearings as may be necessary to determine the matters in dispute. (2) Hearings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 29 CFR part 6. If no hearing is requested within 30 calendar days of the letter from the Administrator, the Administrator's findings shall become the final order of the Secretary. § 23.530 Referral to Chief Administrative Law Judge; amendment of pleadings. (a) Upon receipt of a timely request for a hearing under § 23.510 (where the Administrator has determined that relevant facts are in dispute) or § 23.520 (debarment), the Administrator shall refer the case to the Chief Administrative Law Judge by Order of Reference, to which shall be attached a copy of the investigative findings letter from the Administrator and response thereto, for designation of an Administrative Law Judge to conduct such hearings as may be necessary to decide the disputed matters. A copy of the Order of Reference and attachments thereto shall be served upon the respondent. The investigative findings letter from the Administrator and response thereto shall be given the effect of a complaint and answer, respectively, for purposes of the administrative proceedings. (b) At any time prior to the closing of the hearing record, the complaint (investigative findings letter) or answer (response) may be amended with the permission of the Administrative Law Judge and upon such terms as he/she may approve. For proceedings pursuant to § 23.510, such an amendment may include a statement that debarment action is warranted under § 23.520. Such amendments shall be allowed when justice and the presentation of the merits are served thereby, provided there is no prejudice to the objecting party's presentation on the merits. When issues not raised by the pleadings are reasonably within the scope of the original complaint and are tried by express or implied consent of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings, and such amendments may be made as necessary to make them conform to the evidence. The presiding Administrative Law Judge may, upon reasonable notice and upon such terms as are just, permit supplemental pleadings setting forth transactions, occurrences or events which have happened since the date of the pleadings and which are relevant to any of the issues involved. A continuance in the hearing may be granted or the record left open to enable the new allegations to be addressed. § 23.540 Consent findings and order. (a) At any time prior to the receipt of evidence or, at the Administrative Law Judge's discretion prior to the issuance of the Administrative Law Judge's decision, the parties may enter into consent findings and an order disposing of the proceeding in whole or in part. (b) Any agreement containing consent findings and an order disposing of a proceeding in whole or in part shall also provide: (1) That the order shall have the same force and effect as an order made after full hearing; (2) That the entire record on which any order may be based shall consist solely of the Administrator's findings letter and the agreement; (3) A waiver of any further procedural steps before the Administrative Law Judge and the Administrative Review Board regarding those matters which are the subject of the agreement; and (4) A waiver of any right to challenge or contest the validity of the findings and order entered into in accordance with the agreement. (c) Within 30 calendar days after receipt of an agreement containing consent findings and an order disposing of the disputed matter in whole, the Administrative Law Judge shall, if satisfied with its form and substance, accept such agreement by issuing a decision based upon the agreed findings and order. If such agreement disposes of only a part of the disputed matter, a hearing shall be conducted on the matters remaining in dispute. § 23.550 Proceedings of the Administrative Law Judge. (a) General. (b) Proposed findings of fact, conclusions, and order. (c) Decision. (2) If the respondent is found to have violated Executive Order 14026 or this part, and if the Administrator requested debarment, the Administrative Law Judge shall issue an order as to whether the respondent is to be subject to the ineligible list, including findings that the contractor disregarded its obligations to workers or subcontractors under the Executive Order or this part. (d) Limit on scope of review. (e) Orders. (f) Finality. § 23.560 Petition for review. (a) Filing a petition for review. (b) Effect of filing. § 23.570 Administrative Review Board proceedings. (a) Authority General. (2) Limit on scope of review. (ii) The Equal Access to Justice Act, as amended, does not apply to proceedings under this part. Accordingly, the Administrative Review Board shall have no authority to award attorney's fees and/or other litigation expenses pursuant to the provisions of the Equal Access to Justice Act for any proceeding under this part. (b) Decisions. (c) Orders. (d) Finality. § 23.580 Administrator ruling. (a) Questions regarding the application and interpretation of the rules contained in this part may be referred to the Administrator, who shall issue an appropriate ruling. Requests for such rulings should be addressed to the Administrator, Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Washington, DC 20210. (b) Any interested party may appeal to the Administrative Review Board for review of a final ruling of the Administrator issued under paragraph (a) of this section. The petition for review shall be filed with the Administrative Review Board within 30 calendar days of the date of the ruling. Appendix A to Part 23—Contract Clause The following clause shall be included by the contracting agency in every contract, contract-like instrument, and solicitation to which Executive Order 14026 applies, except for procurement contracts subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR): (a) Executive Order 14026. (b) Minimum wages. (2) The minimum wage required to be paid to each worker performing work on or in connection with this contract between January 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, shall be $15.00 per hour. The minimum wage shall be adjusted each time the Secretary of Labor's annual determination of the applicable minimum wage under section 2(a)(ii) of Executive Order 14026 results in a higher minimum wage. Adjustments to the Executive Order minimum wage under section 2(a)(ii) of Executive Order 14026 will be effective for all workers subject to the Executive Order beginning January 1 of the following year. If appropriate, the contracting officer, or other agency official overseeing this contract shall ensure the contractor is compensated only for the increase in labor costs resulting from the annual inflation increases in the Executive Order 14026 minimum wage beginning on January 1, 2023. The Secretary of Labor will publish annual determinations in the Federal Register https://alpha.sam.gov/content/wage-determinations (3) The contractor shall pay unconditionally to each worker all wages due free and clear and without subsequent deduction (except as otherwise provided by 29 CFR 23.230), rebate, or kickback on any account. Such payments shall be made no later than one pay period following the end of the regular pay period in which such wages were earned or accrued. A pay period under this Executive Order may not be of any duration longer than semi-monthly. (4) The prime contractor and any upper-tier subcontractor shall be responsible for the compliance by any subcontractor or lower-tier subcontractor with the Executive Order minimum wage requirements. In the event of any violation of the minimum wage obligation of this clause, the contractor and any subcontractor(s) responsible therefore shall be liable for the unpaid wages. (5) If the commensurate wage rate paid to a worker performing work on or in connection with a covered contract whose wages are calculated pursuant to a special certificate issued under 29 U.S.C. 214(c), whether hourly or piece rate, is less than the Executive Order minimum wage, the contractor must pay the Executive Order minimum wage rate to achieve compliance with the Order. If the commensurate wage due under the certificate is greater than the Executive Order minimum wage, the contractor must pay the worker the greater commensurate wage. (c) Withholding. (d) Contract suspension/Contract termination/Contractor debarment. (e) Workers who receive fringe benefits. (f) Relation to other laws. (g) Payroll records. (i) Name, address, and social security number; (ii) The worker's occupation(s) or classification(s); (iii) The rate or rates of wages paid; (iv) The number of daily and weekly hours worked by each worker; (v) Any deductions made; and (vi) Total wages paid. (2) The contractor shall also make available a copy of the contract, as applicable, for inspection or transcription by authorized representatives of the Wage and Hour Division. (3) Failure to make and maintain or to make available such records for inspection and transcription shall be a violation of 29 CFR part 23 and this contract, and in the case of failure to produce such records, the contracting officer, upon direction of an authorized representative of the Department of Labor, or under its own action, shall take such action as may be necessary to cause suspension of any further payment or advance of funds until such time as the violations are discontinued. (4) The contractor shall permit authorized representatives of the Wage and Hour Division to conduct investigations, including interviewing workers at the worksite during normal working hours. (5) Nothing in this clause limits or otherwise modifies the contractor's payroll and recordkeeping obligations, if any, under the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations; the Service Contract Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and its implementing regulations; or any other applicable law. (h) Flow-down requirement. (i) Certification of eligibility. (2) No part of this contract shall be subcontracted to any person or firm whose name appears on the list of persons or firms ineligible to receive Federal contracts. (3) The penalty for making false statements is prescribed in the U.S. Criminal Code, 18 U.S.C. 1001. (j) Tipped employees. (1) The employer must inform the tipped employee in advance of the use of the tip credit; (2) The employer must inform the tipped employee of the amount of cash wage that will be paid and the additional amount by which the employee's wages will be considered increased on account of the tip credit; (3) The employees must be allowed to retain all tips (individually or through a pooling arrangement and regardless of whether the employer elects to take a credit for tips received); and (4) The employer must be able to show by records that the tipped employee receives at least the applicable Executive Order minimum wage through the combination of direct wages and tip credit. (k) Antiretaliation. (l) Disputes concerning labor standards. (m) Notice.