NYC Sues Chipotle for Over $150M, Alleging Work Scheduling Violations

The city of New York sues Chipotle over unfair work scheduling practices (again)

National burrito and bowl chain Chipotle has been sued by the city of New York for over $150 million due to alleged violations of the city’s Fair Workweek Law, which was enacted in 2017 to protect workers from unreliable shift scheduling and other unfair work scheduling practices. According to a New York Times report, Chipotle was found in violation of the law in numerous ways, including engaging in last-minute schedule shifts without extra pay and requiring employees to work back-to-back schedules without additional compensation or time off.

This isn’t the first time the city has gone after Chipotle for violations of the Fair Workweek Law. In 2019, NYC sued Chipotle for “at least $1 million” after hearing from employees at five Brooklyn locations that the chain was not complying with fair scheduling practices as required by the law. Since then, the chain has made “some attempts” to abide by the law but violations had continued, according to the report.

Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer told the Times that the lawsuit was a “dramatic overreach” and the company plans to “vigorously defend itself.”

In other news

— Etérea, from Overthrow Hospitality’s Ravi DeRossi, is the latest opening in a string of new East Village establishments for the restaurant group.

— Lower East Side seafood hotspot Cervo’s is reopening on May 4 after a winter hiatus. The restaurant will now be operating with table service, a full wine and cocktail list, and a slew of old customer favorites on the menu, including crispy shrimp heads and mussels escabeche. Proceeds from opening night will be donated to Heart of Dinner.

— Olmsted’s Instagram-ready backyard summer camp is back starting on May 5, followed by a return of brunch service on May 15.

— Hester Flea — from the team behind Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg — debuts tomorrow on the Lower East Side. Opening food vendors include Mediterranean restaurant Sami and Susu, Jamaican spot Excell’s Kingston Eatery, and more.

— Stuy Town is gaining its first restaurant in the development’s 75-year history.

— Can’t stop watching: