I want to report a local business, where many of my friends work for $10 an hour, while the minimum wage is currently at $15 an hour -- it has in fact been at $15 an hour for over a year now.

What advice would you offer, before I write to the Department of Labor and possibly to other entities?

Many people, customers and employees, have urged the store owner to pay minimum wage, but he will not budge. The owner often uses weak excuses and obfuscates, by saying things like, "look at GrubHub, they're doing terribly, because minimum wage is too high a labor cost for them!"

Based on my own observations, I see that this local business is thriving, with many customers in-store, as well as via the multiple delivery apps such as Uber Eats, Postmates, Seamless, etc.

This business is not tip-based either; there are no bartenders, waiters, or waitresses.

Would I be doing the right thing by reporting this?

On the one hand, I feel I should fight for these employees (who often urge me to speak up), and they are often college students, or at-risk individuals, e.g. ex-prisoners. The store owner, I think, feels that there is no shortage of such vulnerable workers to hire and exploit, and so he doesn't have to change his ways.

On the other hand, me reporting him could have the effect of getting these employees laid off, leaving them worse off and scrambling to find new jobs, which, for the ex-cons in particular, could be very difficult.