Federal court orders Salt Lake City supermarket not to interfere with US Labor Department investigation

Date of action:           April 1, 2022

Type of action:           Preliminary Injunction

Names of defendants:  Chinatown Supermarket LLC

Allegations:  Chinatown Supermarket LLC has obstructed the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division investigation when it told employees not to talk to investigators or state that employees worked no more than 40 hours per week, required employees to sign nondisclosure agreements and refused to produce time cards kept on the premises.

Resolution: The U.S. District Court, District of Utah, issued a preliminary injunction enjoining Chinatown Supermarket LLC and anyone who works for the employer, from obstructing the department’s investigation in any manner, including instructing workers not to speak with Wage and Hour investigators, terminating or threatening to terminate workers for cooperating with the investigation and from altering, editing or destroying time and payroll records. The employer must also permit Wage and Hour to read a statement to all employees in English, Spanish and Mandarin informing them of their right to speak with investigators without fear of retaliation or threats of retaliation or intimidation.

Court:   U.S. District Court, District of Utah

Docket Number:          2:22-cv-00221-BSJ