Unjust Termination of Master Chef at Resorts World for Excessive Use of Bacon
In a significant ruling on July 3, 2025, a federal labor judge sided with Brian Satake, a former master cook at Resorts World Las Vegas, in a wrongful termination case. The judge found that Satake's dismissal, which was allegedly due to mishandling bacon, was a pretextual reason and a result of his repeated internal complaints about potential food safety violations.
Satake had worked at the Famous Foods Street Eats venue at Resorts World Las Vegas. In the weeks leading up to his dismissal in April 2023, he had documented complaints about unsafe food storage, harassment from managers, and retaliatory work assignments. He filed at least four statements with the resort's HR department, including complaints against kitchen managers and other cooks, alleging potential health code violations.
Judge Andrew Gollin of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found Resorts World's investigation and termination process deeply flawed and pretextual. He ordered the resort to reinstate Satake to his former or a comparable position, with full backpay and compensation for any tax-related penalties caused by a lump-sum payout. The resort was also ordered to make Satake whole for any loss of earnings and other benefits and reimburse job-search expenses.
The case highlights the potential legal risks for employers, especially in the hospitality industry, when handling employee terminations involving food safety allegations. The victory suggests that the court found the firing unjustified, which could encourage stricter scrutiny of employer practices regarding food safety and labor law compliance. It may also impact Resorts World Las Vegas’s labor relations reputation amid existing lawsuits and negative reviews about its workplace environment.
However, there is no detailed public information available about trial specifics, settlement terms, or the broader implications on food safety policy changes at Resorts World. The case, which also involved a potential retaliation against an employee for expressing concerns about food safety and union activity, may prompt the resort and similar businesses to review their internal protocols for employee discipline and food handling to avoid future liabilities.
Notably, none of the managers who disciplined Satake saw the alleged incident occur. The alleged incident of Satake storing unpackaged, ready-to-eat Chinese bacon in a cardboard box rather than a metal pan, which was the reason given for his firing, was not supported by surveillance footage or witnesses. One supervisor admitted during testimony that Satake was not interviewed as part of the investigation into the "bacon violation."
Resorts World has not commented on the decision and has not said whether it intends to appeal. The resort was also ordered to post a notice informing employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act. This ruling serves as a reminder to employers in the hospitality industry to take food safety concerns seriously and to handle employee terminations fairly and transparently.
[1] Source: NLRB Decision, Case No. 23-CA-034276 [4] Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal, "Former Resorts World cook wins wrongful termination case over food safety concerns," July 6, 2025.
- The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that Brian Satake, a former master cook at Resorts World Las Vegas, was wrongfully terminated in a case involving food safety complaints.
- Judge Andrew Gollin of the NLRB ordered Resorts World Las Vegas to reinstate Satake to his former position, with full backpay and compensation for any tax-related penalties caused by a lump-sum payout.
- The ruling serves as a reminder to employers in the casino-gambling and hospitality industry, particularly in Las Vegas's casino-culture, to take food safety concerns seriously and to handle employee terminations fairly and transparently.
- The victory for Satake could encourage stricter scrutiny of employer practices regarding food safety and labor law compliance in the casino-and-gambling industry.
- The case against Resorts World Las Vegas may prompt other businesses to review their internal protocols for employee discipline and food handling to avoid future liabilities related to wrongful termination and labor law violations.
