Chipotle Mexican Grill was slapped with a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is investigating whether or not the Denver-based burrito slinger is hiring undocumented workers. This comes a year after the company fired roughly 500 workers following audits by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division.
Homeland Security and the criminal sector of the U.S. Attorney’s office of Washington, D.C. are examining Chipotle’s compliance with immigration laws. The company plans to fully cooperate. In a filing, Chipotle said the SEC sought “information regarding our compliance with employee work authorization requirements, our related public statements and other disclosures, and related information.”
In an email, Chipotle attorney Robert Luskin said it’s not unusual for the SEC to join an investigation like this to ensure that the company is upfront and honest with public statements. Luskin is “very confident” the SEC will find that Chipotle acted appropriately.
Since debuting in 2006, Chipotle has been recognized for its ability to effectively manage costs, especially those related to labor, while still managing to grow.
[via The Huffington Post]
Follow @ComplexGuide.
