CHIPOTLE TO PAY $1.3M
AG hits restaurant chain over child labor violations
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has been hit with $1.37 million in restitution and penalties for an estimated 13,253 child labor violations and other state wage and hour law violations at its more than 50 corporateowned locations in Massachusetts, state Attorney General Maura Healey said Monday.
The AG’s Office said it issued four citations against Chipotle for records violations, as well as for violating the child labor and earned sick time laws and for failing to make timely wage payments.
“Chipotle is a major national restaurant chain that employs thousands of young people across the country, and it has a duty to ensure minors are safe working in its restaurants,” Healey said in a statement. “We hope these citations send a message to other fast food chains and restaurants that they cannot violate our child labor laws and put young people at risk.”
Healey’s office began investigating Chipotle after receiving a complaint from a teen’s parent in 2016 alleging that their child had worked well past midnight at a Chipotle location in Beverly.
The investigation found that Chipotle had regularly employed minors without work permits, permitted dozens of 16- and 17-year old employees to work later than the law allows, and allowed minors to work beyond the 9-hour daily limit and 48-hour weekly limit, Healey said.
The investigation also revealed that Chipotle did not properly notify employees of their rights under the earned sick time law, failed to provide the AG’s Office with complete timekeeping records and, at some locations, failed to pay workers within six days of the end of a pay period, she said.
In a statement Monday,
Laurie Schalow, the chain’s chief corporate reputation officer, said: “We are committed to ensuring that our restaurants are in full compliance with all laws and regulations, and we believe that in hiring workers beginning at age 16, we can provide younger employees with valuable experiences and provide a compelling work environment. As part of our settlement with the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, we have agreed to donate $500,000 for the education and enforcement oversight related to child labor laws, for training and skills development of young workers, and to assist Massachusetts youth.”