Lawsuit Alleges Chipotle Required Workers To Perform Duties Without Pay

(Kerry Lannert)

The door may be locked and the lights may have dimmed, but there’s still plenty of work to be done after closing for many restaurant employees. While working after hours isn’t uncommon, those who perform those duties probably expect to continue being paid. But a former employee claims that wasn’t happening at Chipotle, and now he’s suing the fast-casual restaurant.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the former employee filed a federal lawsuit last week accusing Chipotle of not paying workers for duties performed after clocking out.

The 29-year-old former employee claims that Chipotle would conduct training, meetings and other activities in which employees are “required to attend, but for which they are not allowed to punch in.”

Additionally, the suit, which seeks class action status, alleges that the company encouraged managers “to require that work be performed off the clock” after 12:30 a.m. and that systems were put in place for “reward and punishment” of supervisors who either stayed within or exceeded their payroll budgets.

After beginning work at the Chipotle in 2011, the employee says he was required to punch out at the end of his shift but continue to clean the restaurant and attend night meetings.

When the employee complained about the issue, he says managers scheduled him for fewer hours and said he was not being a “team player.”

The suit alleges the employee accumulated between 10 to 15 hours a week of off-the-clock work. The plaintiff seeks unpaid wages, unspecified damages and legal fees.

Officials with Chipotle tell the Star Tribune that they do not comment on pending litigation. So far, no response has been filed by the company.

According to the Star Tribune, the suit marks the second federal case making allegations of wage theft against Minnesota Chipotle restaurants. The first suit was filed on behalf of four employees and remains active.

Minnesota suit: Chipotle makes workers stay late ‘off the clock’ without pay [Minneapolis Star Tribune]

by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist