DOL Recovers $77,523 for 12 Austin Workers Denied Overtime
Summary
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division recovered $77,523 in back wages for 12 workers employed by Grand Buffet Paradise LLC, operating as Buffet Palace in Austin, TX. The investigation found the employer paid kitchen staff straight salaries without providing required half-time overtime premiums for hours worked over 40 per workweek, violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
What changed
The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Grand Buffet Paradise LLC violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by paying kitchen staff straight salaries without providing time-and-a-half premiums for overtime hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The employer has been ordered to pay $77,523 in back wages to the 12 affected workers.
Employers in the food service industry should review their pay practices to ensure compliance with FLSA overtime requirements. The DOL encourages employers to use the agency's compliance assistance resources and the PAID program to self-report and resolve potential violations before facing formal investigation and enforcement action.
What to do next
- Review overtime pay practices to ensure compliance with FLSA
- Contact the Wage and Hour Division for compliance assistance if needed
- Use the DOL's compliance assistance toolkits to understand FLSA obligations
Penalties
$77,523 in back wages recovered for 12 workers
Archived snapshot
Apr 10, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
News Release
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 Act mandates 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 assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency’s industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to 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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Agency Wage and Hour Division Date April 9, 2026 Release Number 26-294-DAL Media Contact: OPA West Media Email opa-west-media@dol.gov Media Contact: Chauntra Rideaux Phone Number 972-850-4710 Email rideaux.chauntra.d@dol.gov Share This
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