U.S. Department of Labor Investigation Results in Fourteen Los Angeles-Area Restaurants Paying $126,142 in Overtime Back Wages

WEST COVINA, CA – Fourteen restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area – operating under five different entities – will pay 100 employees a total of $126,142 after U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigations found violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found that the restaurants failed to pay for all the overtime hours worked by kitchen employees. The restaurants’ failure to maintain accurate time records also resulted in recordkeeping violations under the FLSA.

The restaurants operate under five different entities; Phoenix Food Boutique Inc., with seven restaurants owned by Tommy Chang, May Chang, and Ming Chung; Phoenix Dessert Inc., with three restaurants owned by Tommy Chang and May Chang; 101 Phoenix Inc., with two restaurants owned by Tommy Chang, May Chang, and Ming Chung Ng; Phoenix Bistro Inc., with one restaurant owned by Choy Bay Chang; and T&K Inc., with one restaurant, owned by Tommy Chang.

“Employers are responsible for paying their employees all the wages they have legally earned,” said WHD Assistant District Director Rafael Valles in West Covina. “We encourage all employers to use the many tools we offer to help them understand their responsibilities, and to reach out to us with any questions they may have about how to comply with the law.”  

The restaurants are located in Alhambra, Arcadia, City of Industry, Gardena, Garden Grove, Los Angeles, Monterey Park, Rowland Heights, San Gabriel, and South Pasadena. In addition to paying the overtime wages due, the restaurants have agreed to comply with the FLSA, including keeping complete and accurate time records.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program.  Information is also available at www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD.