Boston, MA — June 2, 2025 — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced today that the upscale Japanese restaurant Zuma Boston, operated by Azumi LLC, and its manager Garrett Ronan have been cited for violating state wage and hour laws by improperly distributing employee tips. The total citation of approximately $1.81 million includes both penalties and restitution, with some affected workers receiving as much as $50,000 each.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) determined that from July 2022 to July 2024, Zuma required service staff to share tips with employees who held managerial responsibilities—a direct violation of Massachusetts wage laws. These employees, referred to as “Captains,” performed duties that rendered them ineligible to participate in the restaurant’s tip pool.
Under Massachusetts law, only wait staff, service bartenders, and other non-managerial service employees may participate in a tip pool. Even if a manager helps serve guests, they cannot share in tips on any day they perform managerial functions.
The AGO began investigating Zuma following a complaint in July 2022, when a worker reported that promoted employees continued to take part in the tip pool despite assuming management duties.
“This case reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting workers from exploitation and ensuring they receive the wages they are lawfully owed,” said Attorney General Campbell. “Employers who violate wage and labor laws—no matter how high-end or high-profile—will be held accountable.”
The enforcement action was handled by Assistant Attorney General Tallulah Knopp and Investigator Matija Zizanovic of the Fair Labor Division, which is responsible for upholding state employment laws.