Chipotle, ‘Apprentices’ Agree to $15 Million Overtime Settlement

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. will pay $15 million to nearly 5,000 “apprentice” employees across the U.S. allegedly misclassified as exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime rules, according to a motion for settlement approval filed in a federal court in New Jersey.

The proposed deal allocates about $9.6 million to the 4,838 collective members, with each expected to receive an average payment of $1,975. It also requests a $30,000 service award for lead plaintiff Carmen Alvarez, $10,000 for named plaintiff Asher Guni, and $2,500 for Joie Dickerson, who opted into the collective before it was certified.

Plaintiffs’ counsel also ...