Let me first admit my bias in this question. I am the child of two immigrants, one Canadian, one Mexican, both legal. I have knowingly worked with Hispanics who are in this country and working legally, as well as those who are here, or simply working, illegally.
That being said, I find it odd that the board simply accepted as fact what the question asker presented, without questioning how this knowledge was acquired, or even if it is knowledge and not just wild allegation. They usually do this, when a question asker is basing their question on premises that are difficult to know. But only Rating Pending, and then, even only in passing, suggested that "maybe the situation isn't at all what it appears ".
What is most likely the case? In retail restaurant industries, estimates are that there are far more legal Hispanic employees than illegals. (I will note that neither the asker nor the board writers specifically said that the illegal aliens, which term I hate, but that's a rant for another time, were Hispanic, but it certainly was implied.) Even if they were working illegally, in storefront type industries, that is, industries that directly interface with customers on a regular basis, it is much more difficult to knowingly employ individuals of questionable status. What mostly happens in these situations is that immigrants will present random social security numbers, and taxes will be taken out of their paychecks, and paid under those SS numbers. So both employee and employer are paying those taxes, hence there would be no benefit to giving them more hours.
Since the patriot act, the government has the ability to closely monitor the finances of pretty much any company it wants, for pretty much any or no reason whatsoever. It would be extremely hard for a company to pay twenty employees under the table, and would require them to engage in fraud in many other facets of their bookkeeping. I'm not saying this doesn't happen, I just would like it to be noted what else Red Lobster is being accused of with this accusation.
Illegal aliens?
Moderator: Marduk
Let's look at the facts we know. The question asker is asking if (s)he should report the situation at the friend's place of business, based on nothing but the indirect word of another employee. "Some citizen" doesn't work there and doesn't have any direct evidence of what is being claimed, nor any direct responsibility over the friend. It would be reckless to "tip off the feds" based on what is essentially hearsay. These sort of unfounded allegations that are carried out in the name of "seeing justice done" destroy innocent lives.