• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Retail

A Lawsuit Claims Chipotle Isn’t Paying Its Workers the Overtime They Deserve

By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Madeline Farber
Madeline Farber
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 8, 2017, 8:14 AM ET

On Wednesday, Mexican food restaurant Chipotle was hit with a lawsuit that claims it failed to correctly pay its workers overtime wages.

The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, alleges the company failed to expand overtime to employees after the Labor Department issued a new rule last year that made more employees eligible for overtime pay, USA Today reports, citing the lawsuit. The rule required employers to pay overtime to any worker with an annual salary up to $47,476—an increase from the $23,660 threshold that was previously required.

But shortly before the rule went into effect, a Texas court put its enforcement on hold, according to USA Today. The Texas injunction kept the Labor Department from enforcing the rule.

The lawsuit says that the burrito chain should still be required to pay overtime despite the Texas court’s injunction. According to USA Today, it contends that the Texas court’s decision did not apply to private employers, meaning the overtime rule should stay in effect until a final ruling is issued on the pay rule.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit is a woman named Carmen Alvarez, who worked as an “apprentice” at several Chipotle restaurants in New Jersey, according to USA Today. Despite typically working more than 40 hours a week, she was not compensated for that overtime, she claims.

A spokesperson for Chipotle was not immediately available when contacted by Fortune. However, when contacted by USA Today, a spokesperson declined to comment on the pending legal action, but did say, “a lawsuit is nothing more than allegations, and the filing of a suit is in no way proof of any wrongdoing.”

About the Author
By Madeline Farber
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

Your company may be eligible for a tariff refund. Here’s how to claim it
North AmericaTariffs
Your company may be eligible for a tariff refund. Here’s how to claim it
By Courtney Vien and Morning BrewMay 5, 2026
13 hours ago
GameStop’s billionaire CEO is an entrepreneur without a college degree who cofounded Chewy. Now he has his sights set on buying eBay for $56 billion
C-SuiteGameStop
GameStop’s billionaire CEO is an entrepreneur without a college degree who cofounded Chewy. Now he has his sights set on buying eBay for $56 billion
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 5, 2026
17 hours ago
three men pose in a grocery store
Startups & VentureGrocery
Exclusive: AI grocery startup Vori raises $22 million to help independent retailers compete with Walmart and Amazon
By Lily Mae LazarusMay 5, 2026
19 hours ago
Starbucks CEO gets roasted for $9 ‘premium experience’ remarks, but Wall Street toasts his tariff-era turnaround strategy
RetailFood and drink
Starbucks CEO gets roasted for $9 ‘premium experience’ remarks, but Wall Street toasts his tariff-era turnaround strategy
By Catherina GioinoMay 4, 2026
1 day ago
The eBay logo with a mobile phone in 2025. (Photo: Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
NewslettersFortune Tech
GameStop makes an unsolicited $56 billion offer for eBay
By Andrew NuscaMay 4, 2026
2 days ago
Meme stock GameStop pitches $56 Billion takeover of eBay
RetailRetail
Meme stock GameStop pitches $56 Billion takeover of eBay
By Cecilia D'Anastasio, Se Young Lee and BloombergMay 3, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Clean energy's winning argument is the one it refuses to make
Commentary
Clean energy's winning argument is the one it refuses to make
By David CraneMay 5, 2026
20 hours ago
Current price of oil as of May 5, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 5, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 5, 2026
18 hours ago
Gen Z workers say showing up 10 minutes late to work is as good as on time—but baby boomer bosses have zero tolerance for tardiness, research reveals
Success
Gen Z workers say showing up 10 minutes late to work is as good as on time—but baby boomer bosses have zero tolerance for tardiness, research reveals
By Orianna Rosa RoyleMay 5, 2026
18 hours ago
Diary of a CEO founder says he hired someone with 'zero' work experience because she 'thanked the security guard by name' before the interview
Success
Diary of a CEO founder says he hired someone with 'zero' work experience because she 'thanked the security guard by name' before the interview
By Emma BurleighMay 3, 2026
3 days ago
China stopped issuing new robotaxi licenses over a glitch. America can't stop them from rolling into active shooter situations
Law
China stopped issuing new robotaxi licenses over a glitch. America can't stop them from rolling into active shooter situations
By Catherina GioinoMay 4, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Tuesday, May 5, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 5, 2026
19 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.