Queens McDonald's Fined $188K For Violating Labor Laws: Officials

QUEENS, NY — The owner of five McDonald's franchise locations in Queens was ordered to pay workers $155,000 for violating city labor laws, officials said Tuesday.

Management at the five McDonald's locations didn't give workers their schedules or get their consent for schedule changes, failed to pay employee premiums when they changed schedules without two weeks' notice and refused to let workers take sick leave, an investigation by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection found.

Franchise owner Thomas Parker retaliated against employees who complained by taking away shifts, reducing hours or, in one case, firing a worker, according to the investigation.

The city's Fair Workweek law, which went into effect in 2017, requires fast food employers to give workers predictable work schedules and "good faith estimates" of when and how much they'll work. Employers must also give workers advanced notice of their schedules.

Under the settlement announced Tuesday, the McDonald's locations' 280 workers will each get $500 in restitution, and two workers who experienced retaliation will get more than $13,000.

The affected employees work at McDonald's locations in Jamaica, Astoria and Woodside, according to a spokesperson for the city's Department of Consumer Affairs.

Parker will also have to train his managers, supervisors and other personnel on the city's fair workweek and paid safe and sick leave laws. An independent monitor will keep tabs on the franchise to make sure it complies with city workplace laws.

"No worker should be afraid to exercise their rights, and any corporation that retaliates against workers will be met with the full force of the law," Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Lorelei Salas urged fast food workers to file a complaint with her office if their employers are violating city workplace laws.