Wash Heights Chipotle Worker Wins Back Job After 'Unfair' Firing

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Yeral Martinez returned to work Monday at a Chipotle in Washington Heights after the Mexican fast-food chain "unfairly" fired him last year for taking a sick day.

A New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection investigation into Martinez's firing found that Chipotle unfairly fired him in the fall of 2019 for using a sick day he was entitled to take.

Lorelei Salas, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, also announced Monday that New York City reached a settlement with Chipotle to ensure that Martinez could return to his job, remove any disciplinary records against him and award him $7,200.

"This is a great day for me because I get to go back to my job and earn money I need to support myself and my family," Martinez said in a news release. "More importantly, this sends a message to all workers and companies that they have to follow the city's paid sick days law."

"Especially now, as so many people have been sick with COVID-19, it's important that all workers know they have the right to paid sick days," Martinez added in the news release.

The Chipotle in Washington Heights is at 4009 Broadway near 169th Street.

Salas, other workers and representatives of union 32BJ SEIU accompanied Martinez on Monday to his first shift back at Chipotle.