Chipotle Hit With Record Fine For Child Labor Violations In MA

BOSTON, MA — Chipotle Mexican Grill has been fined $1.37 million for an estimated 13,253 child labor violations and other state wage and hour law violations at its more than 50 Massachusetts locations, according to Attorney General Maura Healey's office. It is the largest child labor penalty levied by the state.

As part of the settlement, Chipotle also agreed to donate $500,000 toward education programs about child labor and enforcement of the laws, as well as training and workforce development for young workers.

The AG's office issued four citations against the fast-casual chain for violating child labor and earned sick time laws, failing to make timely payment of wages and records violations.

"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."

The office began investigating Chipotle in 2016 after a minor's parent alleged that the employee had worked "well past" midnight at a Chipotle restaurant in Beverly, the AG's office said. A review of the chain's records revealed that minors "routinely worked in violation of the child labor laws," according to the AG.

Audits between 2015 and 2019 identified child labor violations such as minors working without valid work permits, too late into the evening and too many hours daily and weekly. The chain regularly employed minors without work permits, permitted dozens of 16- and 17-year-old employees to work later than what is allowed by law and worked minors past the nine-hour daily limit and 48-hour weekly limit, the AG's office said.

Chipotle also 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, in some locations, failed to pay workers within six days of the end of a pay period, according to the AG.

The chain cooperated with the investigation and is now in compliance with state child labor laws, Healey's office 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," Laurie Schalow, chief corporate reputation officer of Chipotle, said in a statement.

The chain highlighted its $500,000 donation to education programs in the state and benefits like debt-free degrees, tuition reimbursement, healthcare and financial planning access and bonus opportunities.

Chipotle has 62 locations in Massachusetts.