Former Epicurean Lodge chef sues supervisors, suggests unpaid extra time led to firing
The previous executive chef of Tampa’s Epicurean Lodge is suing its owners, alleging he was fired right after complaining that his workers wasn’t obtaining compensated time beyond regulation.
Jason Bamford, who led the kitchen at the culinary-themed boutique resort from 2019 until eventually last December, submitted the go well with versus the hotel’s administration on Thursday in U.S. District Court docket for the Center District of Florida in Tampa, declaring their steps violated the Reasonable Labor Standards Act.
Bamford oversaw the hotel’s Elevage restaurant, Edge rooftop cocktail bar and other corporate and meeting areas. His suit promises that on Dec. 10, he complained that his co-workers were being not remaining compensated time beyond regulation, in accordance with the Truthful Labor Requirements Act. About a week later on, the fit claims, he was fired in retaliation.
Bamford is seeking a jury trial and payment for shed wages, positive aspects and emotional distress. His legal professional declined to comment further more.
By way of a spokesperson, the Epicurean’s management group, Mainsail Lodging and Improvement, declined to comment on the situation, but stated that “the organization follows all applicable condition and federal labor rules, together with individuals associated to time beyond regulation pay back.”
Bamford is not the to start with staff to sue the Epicurean in excess of unpaid additional time all through the pandemic.
In December, former front desk clerk Scottie Guess sued the hotel’s administration in the Center District of Florida, expressing they unsuccessful to pay back him the conventional time and a fifty percent earlier mentioned the $11 for every hour he attained involving April and September.
Guess stated in the fit that he labored 28 time beyond regulation hrs for every 7 days, which labored out to about $10,400 in misplaced wages. The Epicurean disputed individuals hours and denied any wrongdoing, but in April settled the scenario for $10,000, as well as $4,900 in authorized costs.
Formulated in conjunction with Bern’s Steak Residence, and a element of Marriott’s Autograph Collection of inns, the Epicurean opened in 2013. Mainsail Lodging and Advancement operates inns and company lodging through the United States and Caribbean, like the Fenway Resort in Dunedin and Karol Hotel in Feather Seem.
