US Department of Labor recovers $78K in back wages for 12 workers denied overtime pay by Austin buffet restaurant

AUSTIN, TX - The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $77,523 in back wages for 12 workers employed by an Austin restaurant that failed to pay overtime wages required under federal law.

The department's Wage and Hour Division investigated Grand Buffet Paradise LLC, which operates as Buffet Palace, and found that the employer paid kitchen staff straight salaries for all hours worked but failed to pay additional half-time premiums for overtime hours. The Fair Labor Standards Actmandates that employers pay employees overtime pay at not less than time and one-half the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

"Food service employees frequently work long hours under challenging conditions and deserve all of their hard-earned wages," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Charles Frasier in Austin. "Employers are encouraged to contact us for assistance to ensure their pay practices comply with the law."

Workers and employers can call the Wage and Hour Division with questions and requests for compliance assistanceat its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency's industry-specific compliance assistance toolkitsto learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division. The agency's PAID program offers employers an opportunity to self-report and resolve potential FLSA minimum wage and overtime violations, as well as certain potential violations under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool that workers can use if they think they may be owed back wages collected by the division. Download the agency's free timesheet app for iOS and Android devices to ensure hours and pay are accurate.

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