March 16, 2020
By Dean Woolis
Staff Writer
Chipotle is the second largest Mexican food chain in the United States with about 2,580 locations and 83,000 employees nationwide, according to Yahoo Finance.
Between 2015 and 2019, the company was fined $1.3 million for 13,253 child labor violations in Massachusetts. The state’s attorney general found that between 2015 and 2019, more than 50 locations of the popular chain restaurant were employing teenagers under 18 years of age and working them too late and too many hours without the right work permits, according to the digital media website Refinery29.
While some say the fine is adequate punishment, others say it is too low, considering that Chipotle was a $5.5 billion business in 2019, and $1 million is only 0.1 percent of the company’s revenue, according to Refinery29.
Freshman Anthony Panella said it was wrong for Chipotle to overwork its young employees.
“I still intend to eat at Chipotle because it’s very good, but I would not want to work there.”
“If the restaurant is willing to work young teenagers, they shouldn’t overwork them longer than they’re supposed to,” Panella said. “It’ll just backfire on Chipotle.”
Panella said he goes to the Chipotle in Clifton about once every two months. He said his favorite menu item is the burrito bowl.
“I still intend to eat at Chipotle because it’s very good, but I would not want to work there,” Panella said.
Like Panella, Senior Mikayla Poggi said she eats at Chipotle at least once a week and considers it to be her favorite place to eat out.
“Even though they are not in the best situation that they place upon themselves, I intend to still eat there,” Poggi said.
Nonetheless, Poggi said she is concerned about the company’s practices that violate child labor law.
“They have to pay the price for what they did,” Poggi said. “I really do not agree with this situation, and it is truly upsetting to hear something this terrible be revealed about their company.”
English and public speaking teacher Mr. Belmont said since Chipotle is such a large company, it probably regards this fine as nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
“I absolutely agree that they should be reprimanded for overworking young employees,” Belmont said.
He said he tends to eat at Chipotle’s Route 17 location about once a month. He said his go-to is a chicken burrito bowl. Belmont said he used to always get a chicken burrito, but he switched to the bowl because it is more convenient for eating the leftovers.
“Between hearing about these lawsuits and other scandals the company has been involved in over the past few years, I will most likely eat at Chipotle less,” said Belmont.
