*

7.16.2009

thai restaurant accused of underpaying labor

This week in New York, the owner of a downtown Thai restaurant was accused of underpaying restaurant workers by a total of $770,00 over the last six years, sometimes as little as $2.08 an hour.

They are now seeking back wages as well as $192,000 in damages from Hann Low, the owner of two Lemongrass Grill restaurants in the city: Thai Restaurant Accused of Underpaying Labor.

According to the complaint from former employees at the restaurant's financial district location, Low paid delivery workers just $25 a day for 10 to 12 hour shifts. The food preparation workers made about $50 a day for 12-hour shifts.

According to the attorney general's office, once Mr. Low became aware of the investigation, he apparently began paying his employees more, though still less than required under law. Too little, too late, it seems.