Chipotle settles DC child labor allegations for $300K

Chipotle has agreed to pay more than $300,000 after an investigation revealed hundreds of potential violations of the District of Columbia’s child labor laws at Chipotle restaurants in the city, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced.

Schwalb’s office said in a press release Monday that an investigation found more than 800 “potential violations” of D.C.’s child labor laws in Chipotle restaurants in the city in the past three years. The release said Chipotle has agreed to pay D.C. $322,400.

In D.C., minors are prohibited from working after 10 p.m., working more than 8 hours in a day, or working more than 48 hours in one week. They are also prohibited from working six consecutive days. Child labor laws require establishments employing any minors to “keep conspicuously posted” a notice of the regulations governing child labor.

“We applaud young people who take the initiative to work in addition to going to school. But the law limits the hours they can work to ensure they are healthy, well-rested, and able to fulfill their responsibilities as students and to their families,” Schwalb said in a statement.

His office began investigating alleged violations in May 2022 after reports in other jurisdictions surfaced related to Chipotle’s alleged violations of child labor laws.

The D.C. attorney general’s office said in its press release that “Chipotle cooperated with [the attorney general’s] investigation and worked with the office to develop a plan to comply with DC’s child labor laws.”

Schwalb said as part of the settlement, Chipotle will adopt a new training program, ensuring formal training for all apprentices and general managers within six months of their hire. Store managers will be required to provide all minors who are employees with a copy of D.C.’s child labor policy. 

Schwalb said some of the settlement money will fund a “Youth Employment Opportunities Grant.”

“We will put this settlement to good use by helping connect District youth with apprenticeships and workforce training opportunities, building on our efforts to ensure that all young people in the District have the chance to thrive and succeed,” he said. 

Reported child labor violations across the country have surged in the past few years, with incidents rising 69 percent between 2018 and 2022, according to federal data.

The Department of Labor and a dedicated task force have sought to combat the problem with a “whole-of-government approach.” Recently, an independent Labor watchdog agency launched an investigation into the surge of violations and the department’s response to the problem.

In a statement to The Hill, Laurie Schalow, Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer, said the company is committed to complying with applicable laws and has since implemented an “enhanced labor scheduling program” in restaurants.

“We are committed to ensuring that our restaurants are in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations and we believe that in hiring workers beginning at age 16, we can provide younger employees with valuable experiences and an opportunity for advancement,” Schalow said in the statement. “We have reached a settlement with the Washington, D.C. Office of the Attorney General for the events dating back to 2020, and have implemented an enhanced labor scheduling program in our restaurants, creating a more efficient, consistent and compliant environment.”

Schalow further touted Chipotle’s investment in developing careers of younger employees, including helping cover some tuition costs and providing “transparent career progression” to help people advance to managerial positions.

“Chipotle gives workers, including younger employees, industry-leading benefits such as debt-free degrees, tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year, access to mental healthcare, financial planning tools, and the opportunity for quarterly bonuses for all employees, including hourly crew members, up to a month’s worth of pay per year,” she said.

“We also provide transparent career progression showing how Chipotle crew members can advance to a Restaurateur, the highest General Manager position, in as little as three and a half years, with a total potential compensation package of approximately $100,000 while leading a multi-million-dollar growing business.”

Updated at 5:08 pm.