Workers at three Austin restaurants say what should have been a routine payday turned into a financial nightmare, with their boss going silent and multiple paychecks bouncing just before the holidays. Roughly two dozen staffers say they were left short thousands of dollars and are now bracing for another missed paycheck.
Paychecks Bounce On Christmas Eve, Workers Say
Christian De La Fuente, beverage and operations manager for Flavor Hospitality Group, told CultureMap Austin that employees stopped hearing from owner Cameron Lockley on payday. Then, on Christmas Eve, staffers began getting texts that their checks had been returned. De La Fuente said about 20 to 25 employees were collectively out roughly $25,000 and called the situation "truly disgusting and it's unfair."
GoFundMe, Lost‑Wage Claims Add Up To Anxious Holiday
Organizers launched a GoFundMe, and employees have filed lost‑wage claims with the Texas Workforce Commission, the Austin-American-Statesman reported. The fundraiser had raised only a small amount toward a $25,000 goal as of late December, and all three restaurants posted temporary closures over the holidays, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Owner Resurfaces, Apologizes As Company Tries Damage Control
Owner Cameron Lockley has since resurfaced and apologized, telling managers he "found himself in a hole," the reporting said. A company spokesperson, speaking through a PR representative, said the business is "committed to working towards a resolution" and that professionals were being engaged to assess next steps, according to the Houston Chronicle. Managers say Lockley controlled bookkeeping and payroll and that lawyers for the parties are scheduled to speak soon.
Legal Options For Workers
Employees have filed claims with the Texas Workforce Commission and say they will pursue agency remedies and other avenues to recover pay. Those complaints can trigger agency reviews and, in some cases, orders to pay back wages. Affected staffers say they are also weighing private legal counsel while relying on community donations for immediate needs.
What happens next will depend on conversations between managers, investors, and Lockley, and on whether the agency investigation produces a formal finding. For now, staffers and patrons are left waiting for a clear plan to make workers whole.
