How the Wage and Hour Division Helps Restaurant Workers

Thomas Chen is a restaurant worker who has first-hand experience with wage theft. At the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Super King Buffet where he worked, he was met with verbal abuse after he complained about not receiving the tips he was owed. Although Chen ultimately found work for higher pay at another restaurant, he was unwilling to forget the stolen wages or the abuse, so he called the Wage and Hour Division.

What made you contact the Wage and Hour Division?

I contacted [the agency] recently to make a complaint for myself. My employer’s pay practices were not in compliance with current labor laws.

Was it easy to file a complaint with the agency?

Yes, it was easy to file a complaint. 

Did you worry about retaliation from your employer?

When I asked my employer questions about my pay, I did not consider being retaliated against, but that is exactly what happened. After speaking with a Wage and Hour Division investigator, I felt confident in my decision to make the complaint to [the agency].

What did you learn from the investigation process?

I learned a lot from the investigation process, and I will always recommend the agency to my friends or co-workers.

What are your thoughts about the Wage and House Division staff?

The Wage and Hour Division investigator is awesome, and she helped me to feel at ease about the investigation. She kept me well informed about the process.

How will the back wages help you?

With [more than $30,000] in back wages, I intend to pay my mortgage and buy my children school clothes.

Would you like to add anything else about your experience with the agency?

I am grateful to the Wage and Hour Division because I hope the investigation helped my former employer realize they must pay workers what they have rightfully earned. 

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