How can a restaurant get away with such treatment of workers?

My daughter has worked at a major chain restaurant for 3 years. She's experienced because she worked at other restaurants before that and she also bar tends. Her hourly wage is slightly over $2 an hour and has never had a raise. They often call mandatory meetings that can last up to 2 hours and they do not pay the employees.

The manager is hot tempered and verbally abusive at times. Yes she gets tips but they vary. Sometimes she does well, other nights her tips might only be $30 for the whole night.

This is a very popular steakhouse in Tennessee. It seems though that they believe in slave labor. I've seen my daughter go to work with a fever because she was afraid of management. While she was working sick, the boss said to her sarcastically, "What's the matter with you? You're looking sour tonight". She never told him she was sick.

Yes she could leave but as we all know, the job market is poor right now. She's got a car payment and pays for her son's preschool, so she can't afford to walk away.