Workers at both Dunkin’ Donuts and Taco Bell locations in New York City may be entitled to compensation following a major settlement involving alleged violations of the city’s Fair Workweek Law. A large franchise operator that owns and operates multiple fast-food locations across Manhattan and Queens has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million after a city investigation found widespread scheduling abuses affecting hundreds of employees.
A New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) investigation found that Salz Management LLC, a franchisee of Dunkin’ and Taco Bell, systematically violated local scheduling laws at 24 locations. The probe revealed that the company frequently made last-minute schedule changes and failed to provide workers with the required 14 days’ advance notice of their schedules, in violation of New York City’s Fair Workweek Law.
According to the DCWP, Salz Management also failed to obtain employee consent or pay required premiums for so-called “clopening” shifts, where employees are scheduled to close a store late at night and return early the next morning to open. The company further violated the law by not offering additional available shifts to current employees before hiring new workers.
These violations impacted approximately 760 workers, who will now receive restitution as part of the settlement. In addition to the $1.5 million in worker payments, the company will also pay $155,000 in civil penalties.
The Taco Bell locations involved in the investigation were subject to the same unlawful scheduling practices. Fast food workers at these locations are specifically protected under the Fair Workweek Law, which includes additional safeguards such as predictable scheduling and the right to decline certain schedule changes without retaliation. The findings highlight how these protections may have been ignored across multiple brands under the same ownership.
If you worked at Dunkin’, Taco Bell, or another fast-food establishment in New York City and experienced last-minute schedule changes, “clopening” shifts, or were denied additional hours, you may have legal rights. Contact Fitapelli & Schaffer for a free consultation to learn more about your options.