Business

Probe into Papa John’s wages

These ingredients aren’t what telegenic pizza chain founder John Schnatter is talking about.

Several Big Apple Papa John’s pizza joints have received subpoenas as part of a probe into fast food restaurants underpaying workers.

Investigators want to know if Papa John’s — known for the slogan “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza” — and other eateries are using deliverymen to perform general workplace chores like cleaning the floor or preparing pizza boxes while paying them less than the $7.25 an hour minimum wage, sources said.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in May announced a probe of fast-food chains but did not name specific companies.

The Post has learned that several Papa John’s franchisees received subpoenas recently as part of that probe.

“It is indicative of some kind of perceived system-wide problem,” David Paris, a franchisee lawyer who is not involved in the investigation, said after reviewing the 10-page subpoena.

Papa John’s International, the parent of 3,100 restaurants, including 127 in New York state, is not the subject of the probe but could be brought into it.

“As a company, Papa John’s believes that all of its team members should be fairly compensated with market competitive rates and in accordance with the law,” the company said in a statement.

“Papa John’s does not control or dictate independent franchisees’ employment activities, including the hiring, firing, and compensation of their employees. Papa John’s does not operate any corporate restaurants in the state of New York.”

Schneiderman, in at least one subpoena, a copy of which has been obtained by The Post, is seeking any communication between the franchise operators and Papa John’s International related to “personnel matters.”

The subpoenas, received in August, ask the franchisees for 34 items including “All documents concerning any policy, procedure, or practice related to job responsibilities of delivery workers when not performing out-of-store deliveries of food and/or beverages to customers during a work shift.”

Under state labor law, restaurant delivery workers who work more than two hours a shift in non-tip related work must get paid minimum wage and be eligible for overtime.

Service employees, like waitresses and deliverymen, can be paid as little as $5.65 per hour as long as they receive the equivalent of at least $1.60 per hour in tips — which would bring them up to the minimum wage.

Schneiderman’s office declined to comment.

In addition to the probe, deliverymen have filed lawsuits against local Papa John’s franchisees, claiming they violate federal labor laws by failing to pay minimum wage or overtime.

Elias Matos, who delivered pizzas for the Papa John’s on the corner of Broadway and 179th Street until August, claims he “worked between 50 and 60 hours per week, and closed the restaurant most nights” — a chore that takes up to two hours.