For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
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Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces Nearly $3,000,000 Settlement with Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. for Alleged Violations of Secure Scheduling and Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinances
1,853 Employees Impacted Across Eight Locations
Seattle, WA (April 11, 2024) -The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) investigated Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (“Chipotle”) for alleged violations of the Secure Scheduling and Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinances throughout Chipotle’s eight operations in Seattle.
Chipotle settled the allegations and agreed to pay a total financial remedy of $2,895,716.73 to 1,853 employees and $7,308.63 to the City of Seattle. Chipotle also agreed to develop and implement a written Secure Scheduling Ordinance (SSO) policy.
This is the largest SSO settlement since the ordinance’s creation and the fourth largest overall in the history of the office. Prior to the Chipotle settlement, OLS resolved cases under the Secure Scheduling Ordinance against Macy’s in June 2020 for $1,999,839, and against Carpe Diem, dba Domino’s Pizza in December 2021 for $2,134,981.
Under the Secure Scheduling Ordinance, OLS alleged the employer:
- Failed to consistently provide premium pay for schedule changes when required;
- Retaliated against an employee for declining to work or consent to a shift change made with less than 14 days’ notice;
- Retaliated against an employee for requesting not to be scheduled at certain times in conflict with a second job; and
- Failed to maintain records of original work schedules, as required by the Secure Scheduling Ordinance.
Under the Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance, OLS also alleged the employer:
- Failed to provide PSST accrual at the correct rate;
- Lacked a compliant written PSST policy; and
- Retaliated against an employee for calling out sick.
“My intention was to be an advocate for my fellow co-workers and be a voice for those who have remained silent about their grievances. Many among us, like myself, are immigrants who are unaware of their rights and have endured hardships in their workplace,” said G.B., Chipotle worker. “This case proved that workplace safety and equality should be accessible to everyone, regardless of our backgrounds, financial status, or job description. I hope that this case will encourage individuals who have faced adverse circumstances to speak up, knowing that there are laws and standards in place to safeguard their rights and well-being.”
“These workers’ success standing up to abuse and retaliation in their workplace demonstrates the importance of enforcement to make labor rights real in the lives of workers,” said Executive Director of Working Washington and Fair Work Center, Danielle Alvarado. “Effective enforcement keeps money in workers’ pockets and in our local economy, and levels the playing field for small businesses who follow labor laws by holding accountable corporations that don’t. Fair Work Center is proud to partner with OLS to ensure Seattle workers receive the dignity and respect all workers deserve.”
The fast casual restaurant chain has more than 115,000 employees worldwide.
“Ensuring workers’ rights, such as secure schedules and paid sick and safe time without the fear of retaliation, should be the norm, not the exception,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese. “In this investigation, there were widespread allegations by workers of Chipotle’s failure to comply with Seattle’s labor standards impacting eight locations and nearly two thousand workers. This makes this settlement the largest involving alleged violations of the Securing Scheduling ordinance, which has been in effect since 2017. We believe in fundamental fairness in Seattle and that includes accountability when a large corporation such as Chipotle does not follow our labor standards and causes harm to their workers, impacting the city’s economy, even as it competes against local businesses that do their best to abide by the law.”
For more information on the Secure Scheduling Ordinance please visit the OLS webpage here. A Secure Scheduling Ordinance training can be accessed on the OLS Training Webpage here, and for information on the Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance please click here.
- Help for workers and the public: to ask a question, file a complaint, or provide information, call 206-256-5297, email workers.laborstandards@seattle.gov, or click here to fill out a worker inquiry web form.
- Help for employers: for free and private assistance for compliance with Seattle’s labor standards, call 206-256-5297, email laborstandards@seattle.gov or click here to fill out an employer inquiry web form.
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