World-renowned California restaurant hit with bombshell labor lawsuit — together with employees claims of vile bogs

A world-renowned Napa Valley restaurant has been hit with bombshell claims of unpaid wages and vile bogs.

Elena Flows Beteta is suing French Laundry and Thomas Keller Restaurant Group over alleged violations of the California labor code, per the Press Democrat.

Beteta, who labored as a dishwasher from 2022-2025, filed the go well with in Napa County Superior Court docket on behalf of her and “over fifty present and former aggrieved staff,” she claims.

They declare the restaurant and its house owners did not “constantly pay for all hours labored, together with time beyond regulation hours.”

Beteta and the opposite staff allege they have been repeatedly “required to work off the clock” and to finish “post-shift duties” for which they have been unpaid, comparable to cleansing partitions and mopping flooring.

One of many extra surprising allegations included worker bogs have been a 10-minute stroll from the restaurant, positioned inside a close-by storage unit and “constantly filthy,” the lawsuit states.

Workers claimed they “incessantly missed meal intervals,” and once they have been supplied, they have been “typically later, quick and/or interrupted.”

Relaxation intervals have been additionally “incessantly missed” and “not scheduled into each day shifts,” the lawsuit states.. 

In addition they have been allegedly denied “appropriate resting services,” and infrequently pressured to lean up towards a wall or take their relaxation breaks of their automotive.

The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group advised the California Submit that they “solely turned conscious of this lawsuit by means of the media.”

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“The lawsuit is filed by a single worker solely. That worker makes a baseless declare that she represents different staff as nicely. She doesn’t,” the assertion mentioned.

“Past this one worker, no different worker on the French Laundry has raised any points about underpayment.”

“The very fact is that the French Laundry complies totally with all California employment legal guidelines. We look ahead to proving that this lawsuit from a single worker has no foundation by any means.”

The restaurant advised the Press Democrat that it denied “any allegations which have been made towards the corporate.”

“We worth our staff and keep a respectful, skilled, and inclusive office,” the assertion mentioned.

“We’re dedicated to complying with all relevant employment legal guidelines and rules, and we keep insurance policies and practices designed to advertise equity and compliance throughout our group.”

The Thomas Keller’s restaurant group consists of the French Laundry and Bouchon Bistro in Napa Valley, Per Se in New York Metropolis and Bouchon Bistro in Vegas.

A listening to for Beteta’s lawsuit is scheduled for the tip of August, in accordance with the court docket. The California Submit has reached out to her lawyer for additional remark.