On November 18, 2024, Wendy’s agreed to pay $4 million to settle a class action alleging it failed to guarantee workers meal and rest breaks. A former employee asked a Colorado federal court to approve the deal; the report describes a proposed settlement, not a court-approved outcome.
By Irene Spezzamonte ( November 18, 2024, 2:30 PM EST) -- Wendy's agreed to shell out $4 million to settle a class action claiming the fast food chain failed to guarantee workers meal and rest breaks, a former employee said, asking a Colorado federal court to sign off on the deal....
Wendy’s announced a goal to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 47%—an estimated 7.2 million metric tons—by 2030 against a 2019 baseline. The plan covers emissions from company operations and stores, and calls for reducing emissions intensity among franchisees and supply-chain partners. The target was approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative.
Wendy’s has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 47%, or the equivalent of 7.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, by 2030 compared to the base year of 2019, according to a press release issued Thursday.
The EEOC sued Starboard Group and Starboard with Cheese, which operates a Wendy’s in Carbondale, Illinois, alleging transgender employees faced pervasive harassment, unequal bathroom access and intrusive treatment. The agency also alleges the restaurant fired one employee and reduced others’ hours in retaliation. These are allegations in the lawsuit, not established findings.
EEOC v. Starboard Group, Inc., d/b/a Wendy’s, and Starboard with Cheese LLC, Case 3:24-cv-02260 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. In its lawsuit, the agency charged that the Wendy’s Carbondale, Illinois location subjected a class of transgender employees to pervasive sexual harassment including repeatedly subjecting the transgender employees to misgendering, graphic sexual comments, unequal access to bathrooms, intrusive questions, and degrading conduct based on gender identity. Employees said supervisors inquired about their genitalia and forbade them from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity, co-workers referred to them as “it” and often misgendered them even after being corrected. The conduct altered the terms or conditions of employment and Wendy’s terminated one member of the class and retaliated against the others when it reduced their hours for opposing the harassment. The company also refused to update company records to reflect legal name changes.
The EEOC alleges Wendy’s International, LLC refused to let a Columbus, Ohio, district manager return from approved medical leave after surgery in 2022, required unrestricted work, then fired him. The agency also alleges the company favored younger workers. The lawsuit, announced December 30, 2025, asserts violations of federal disability and age discrimination laws.
According to the lawsuit, Wendy’s International, LLC, which owns and operates fast food restaurants nationwide, employed a district manager who worked for the company and its franchises since the early 1990s. In 2022, the Columbus, Ohio-based district manager, who was in his early 50s, went on approved medical leave for disability-related surgery. Although his healthcare provider released him to return to work after surgery, Wendy’s would not let him return, required him to remain on leave, conditioned his employment on his ability to work without any restrictions, and then fired him, according to the lawsuit. Wendy’s also demonstrated a preference for younger workers in the years surrounding the district manager’s termination, according to the EEOC.
In an August 27, 1998 settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and attorneys general from nine states, Wendy’s International agreed to remove or widen customer queues and address other alleged access barriers at company-owned or leased restaurants. The task force cited wheelchair access concerns; Wendy’s denied violating accessibility laws, and the agreement was not an admission of liability.
4. Payment to the Florida Attorney General shall be made by check payable to the Florida Association of Community Relations Professionals, Inc., a not-for-profit Florida corporation, to conduct a workshop addressing accessibility requirements under federal and state law.
6. This Settlement Agreement resolves the alleged failure of certain WII Restaurants to comply with the ADA and/or applicable State Accessibility Laws. The United States, the State of Arizona, and the State of Illinois received complaints alleging that various barriers to access existed at WII Restaurants under their jurisdiction. In addition, the Federal-State Task Force reviewed architectural plans for and/or visited WII Restaurants in: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, and West Virginia, and found features in those facilities that the Federal-State Task Force believes do not comply with the ADA and/or the applicable State Accessibility Law.
This is to inform you that Wendy's International, Inc. ("WII") has entered into an agreement with a Federal-State Task Force consisting of the United States Department of Justice and Attorneys General from the states of Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (the "Task Force") to ensure accessibility at company-owned or leased restaurants. Pursuant to this agreement, we have agreed to take certain actions in connection with the removal or widening of the customer queues at all company-owned or leased restaurants, because the Federal-State Task Force believes that our previous queue designs were not wide enough for some customers who use wheelchairs. We have also agreed to remove various other alleged barriers to access by August 27, 1999.
In February 2020, Wendy’s agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that teenagers at 46 company-owned Massachusetts restaurants worked later and longer than permitted. State investigators estimated more than 2,100 violations. The attorney general’s office said Wendy’s changed its scheduling system and came into compliance; the company said it aimed to be a responsible employer.
Massachusetts is sending a message to some of the country's biggest restaurant chains: Stop exploiting teenage workers.Wendy's was the latest company to get the memo from the state's attorney general, Maura Healey, when the fast-food chain on Tuesday agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that it violated child labor laws by having teenage employees at dozens of Massachusetts restaurants work later and longer than allowed.Healey's office began investigating after a minor employed at a Wendy's in Worcester complained that teenagers were working too late into the night and too many hours per day. Wendy's provided records to investigators, who found that the restaurant was violating two child labor laws by allowing 16- and 17-year-old employees to work past 10 p.m. and more than nine hours per day.Investigators estimated more than 2,100 violations at 46 corporate-owned Wendy's International locations across the state."We are committed to being a responsible employer, with the goal that all employees have a rewarding experience as valued members of our team," Wendy's said in a statement.Other chains hit in state crackdownIn response to the investigation, Wendy's has changed its employee scheduling system to ensure compliance, the attorney general's office said."Wendy's came into compliance as a result of our investigation and took meaningful steps to ensure a safe and productive work environment for its young workers," Healey said in a statement.Another popular restaurant company, Chipotle Mexican Grill, also recently settled charges that it broke child labor laws in Massachusetts. In January, the chain agreed to pay a $1.3 million fine over more than 13,000 child labor violations at its restaurants in the state. Last year, Healey's office also fined fast-casual chain Qdoba Mexican Eats $400,000 for more than 1,000 child labor law violations in 22 corporate-owned locations in Massachusetts.The latest penalty against Wendy's is "one of many violations by the fast-food industry," Healey said in a tweet.Under Massachusetts law, children under 18 may not work more than nine hours a day or more than 48 hours in a week. Fourteen- and 15-year-old children may not work later than 7 p.m., while 16- and 17-year-olds may not work later than 10 p.m. on a night preceding a school day, or later than midnight preceding a non-school day.
A two-year Associated Press investigation reported that more than 500 prisoners worked at local Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Burger King and Applebee’s restaurants in Alabama over five years. The reporting describes a broader state prison-labor system and says private-company workers could face punishment for refusing work. The evidence does not specify Wendy’s response or its role in hiring.
In the past five years, over 500 prisoners have worked at local Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Burger King and Applebee’s restaurants alone. They also have cleaned hotels, manufactured kitchen cabinets, made yarn used in carpets, constructed doors for houses sold at national home stores like Lowe’s, and built trailers pulled behind semi trucks ...
A class-action lawsuit filed in 2023 alleges Alabama coerces incarcerated people to work, including at Wendy’s restaurants, while penalizing refusals and denying parole. The AP reported that more than 500 prisoners worked at local Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Burger King and Applebee’s restaurants over five years. These are allegations, not established findings; Alabama’s attorney general’s office has disputed that the system constitutes slavery.
Ptomey is one of 10 current and former prisoners who filed a class-action federal lawsuit last year against state officials, local governments and businesses like McDonald’s and Wendy’s franchises, contending they perpetuate a system of forced labor akin to a “modern-day form of slavery” that keeps the best workers from being released.
Ten former and current prisoners and labor unions that represent service workers filed the lawsuit Tuesday against Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, a beer distributor and several fast food companies. The lawsuit alleges the prison system makes money by deducting fees from the wages of prisoners. Private companies such as KFC, Wendy’s, Burger King and McDonald’s get a steady supply of workers from the prison system, the lawsuit says.
Wendy’s and Ampion Renewable Energy announced a partnership in June 2024 to source renewable energy for U.S. restaurants and franchises. Wendy’s said nearly 100 company-operated restaurants and almost 40 franchise locations in New York, Massachusetts and Illinois had enrolled, sourcing about 30%–100% of their energy through solar without installing panels.
The Wendy’s Company is partnering with solar acquisition and services provider Ampion Renewable Energy to source clean energy and reduce carbon emissions across its United States restaurants and franchises, the companies announced Thursday.
Former employees alleged Wendy’s collected workers’ fingerprints through point-of-sale scanners without informed written consent, violating Illinois’s Biometric Information Privacy Act. In 2024, Wendy’s agreed to an $18.2 million class-action settlement, with eligible claimants expected to receive about $575, subject to claims filed and deductions. Wendy’s denied the allegations and any violation; it did not comment on the settlement.
The complaint, a class action filed by former Wendy’s employees Martinique Owens and Amelia Garcia, argues that Wendy’s use of Discovery NCR Corporation fingerprint scanners to track employee hours and access to cash registers and point-of-sale systems is in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). Namely, BIPA requires employees to be notified in writing “of the specific purpose and length of time for which their fingerprints were being collected, stored, and used,” ZDNet wrote, as well as requires employers obtain “explicit consent” from staff in the form of writing to collect and use their biometric data. The plaintiffs say Wendy’s does not do this.
At the heart of the issue, according to those who brought the class action against Wendy’s, is that the company collected some employees’ biometric data without first obtaining their informed written consent, according to the lawsuit’s settlement website.
Meritage Hospitality Group, which operated 314 Wendy’s restaurants, sued Wendy’s in September 2026 after receiving an emailed termination notice shortly before filing for Chapter 11. Meritage alleges the notice was defective and seeks to preserve its franchise contracts; Wendy’s says Meritage owes $147 million in fees and royalties. The court’s ruling is unresolved.
A franchise termination notice sent by The Wendy’s Co. via email to Meritage just a day before the operator of 314 Wendy’s locations filed for Chapter 11 should be ruled defective, the franchisee said in a Tuesday complaint in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan. Wendy’s says Meritage owes it $147 million in fees and unpaid royalties.
The publicly-traded franchisee filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 17, just a day after Wendy’s communicated through email that because of the unresolved defaults, it was terminating all of the franchise agreements.
Fact-checkers reported that neither Wendy’s nor its PAC contributed to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Wendy’s said its PAC did not support any presidential candidate. Reports say employees personally gave $5,659 to Harris and $27,890 to Trump, while the PAC contributed $56,000 to Republican and $30,000 to Democratic House and Senate candidates.
The Wendy's organization did not make any contributions to Trump. Individuals employed by the company donated $5,659 to Harris and $27,890 to Trump, according to Open Secrets (archived here). Wendy's Co PAC did not make any contributions to Trump in the 2024 election cycle according to Open Secrets (archived here) and the FEC website (archived here). The PAC donated $56,000 to Republican candidates and $30,000 to Democratic Candidates in the 2024 election cycle according to Open Secrets.
PAC: $30,000 to Democratic and $56,000 to Republican House and Senate candidates in 2024.
In letters sent Tuesday, shareholders urged Wendy’s directors to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for child labor at franchised restaurants and requested third-party human-rights risk assessments, among other actions. The report does not specify the letter’s date or Wendy’s response.
In letters sent Tuesday, the shareholders urged the boards of directors at McDonald’s and Wendy’s to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for the use of child labor at franchised restaurants. They also asked the companies to conduct third-party human rights risk assessments of their businesses, among other demands.
A Murfreesboro police report says manager Michiko Burton tied a neurodivergent Wendy’s employee to kitchen equipment. Burton reportedly called it a TikTok joke; a coworker and the worker’s family disputed that account. Police filed no charges, and the franchisee said it investigated and took action; Wendy’s general manager confirmed the manager was fired.
According to a Murfreesboro police report, the employee was tied up by manager Michiko Burton.
On Feb. 13, 2025, Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner said the company would accelerate deployment of digital kiosks, menu boards and drive-thru voice AI. Wendy’s said the technology had simplified ordering and freed employees to focus on customers; it reported prior installations at more than 300 locations for menu boards and roughly 100 for voice AI.
Wendy’s will accelerate the deployment of digital kiosks, digital menu boards and drive-thru voice artificial intelligence, President and CEO Kirk Tanner said Thursday during an earnings call.
That day, Wendy’s announced a multimillion-dollar investment to roll out digital menu boards across all its U.S. stores. This investment would support “dynamic pricing and menu offerings,” according to a slide from the conference call. While presenting the slides, Wendy’s chief executive officer said, “Beginning as early as 2025, we will begin testing more enhanced features like dynamic pricing and day-part offerings along with AI-enabled dynamic pricing menu changes and suggestive selling.”
The company said Tuesday that it would not charge higher prices during peak hours. This statement follows widespread consumer backlash on social media in response to mention of a dynamic pricing test
OpenSecrets reported that Wendy’s company PAC gave 72.05% of its 2019–2020 candidate contributions to Republicans. Separately, a 2020 Verify review found no direct or indirect donations by then-CEO Todd Penegor to Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. It distinguished those PAC donations from contributions by franchise owner James Bodenstedt.
27.95% to Democrats, 72.05% to Republicans</td> <td>$268,300</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Contributions to this PAC from individual donors of $200 or more (list donors)</td> <td>$402,847</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
This database showed 39 donations since January, 2017, ranging from $192 to $576. All 39 donations were made to "The Wendys Company Political Action Committee."
In a lawsuit filed in Cook County on July 30, 2026, Roxie Ellis Douglas alleges a Wendy’s meal she ate in August 2025 caused a Campylobacter infection, two hospital stays and $93,578.24 in medical expenses. She claims the company mishandled food and seeks more than $50,000; Wendy’s requested transfer to federal court and a jury trial.
Douglas claims the company failed to use safe food storage, handling and preparation practices, failed to inspect food and kitchen conditions for contamination and failed to eliminate harmful bacteria before serving the meal. The complaint also alleges Wendy's failed to warn customers of the alleged danger and served food that was unfit for human consumption.
Police said three employees at a Wendy’s in Union, South Carolina, were arrested between June 16 and 22, 2026, after a customer allegedly received food from her original order that staff had pulled from the trash and spat on. Wendy’s called the incident unacceptable; the franchisee said it dismissed those allegedly involved and was working with law enforcement.
Wendy’s called the incident “wholly unacceptable” and confirmed the sick trio have been fired.
OpenSecrets’ profile reports $172,358 in contributions for the 2024 cycle, including $104,500 from PACs and $67,858 from individuals associated with the organization, affiliates or their families—not corporate donations. It lists no outside spending and says Wendy’s Co did not report federal lobbying during the cycle.
Wendy's Co has not reported lobbying the federal government during the 2024 election cycle.
On Sept. 30, 2023, a federal judge in New York dismissed Justin Chimienti’s suit alleging Wendy’s and McDonald’s ads showed burgers larger and juicier than those served. Judge Hector Gonzalez said the images disclosed meat weight and calories and Chimienti had not shown a reasonable customer would be misled.
A federal judge in New York has dismissed a lawsuit that accused McDonald’s and Wendy’s of misleading consumers with ads that show bigger, juicier burgers than their restaurants actually serve.
Law360 reported July 2, 2024, that Primary AIM, LLC, which operates Wendy’s restaurants, reached a deal with the EEOC to end a suit claiming it failed to submit workforce data on time. The available report does not state the settlement terms or outcome details.
A company that operates Wendy's restaurants reached a deal with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to end a suit claiming it shirked its legal responsibility to timely submit its workforce...
The Justice Department investigated Parco Ltd., operator of six Wendy’s restaurants in Cedar Rapids, after a disability-rights complaint. It found 96 accessibility barriers during 2007 site visits. Under a settlement, Parco agreed to remedy the barriers by September 30, 2009, pay the complainant $7,000 and pay the United States a $4,000 civil penalty; the evidence does not confirm completion.
This matter was initiated by a complaint filed with the United States Department of Justice ("United States") and investigated by the United States Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Iowa, against Parco, Ltd., ("Parco") the franchisee of six Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurants ("Wendy's") located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The complaint, DJ No. 202-27-22, which was filed by Peer Action Disability Support (PADS), alleged that a Wendy's restaurant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa contained architectural barriers to access to individuals with disabilities in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") or ("the Act"), 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq., and its implementing regulation, 28 C.F.R. pt. 36. Under the authority granted by section 308 of the ADA, the United States investigated the allegations of the complaint and expanded its investigation to include additional Wendy's restaurants operated by Parco, Ltd. 42 U.S.C. § 12188(b); 28 C.F.R. § 36.502.
The Labor Department said Sinkula Investments Ltd. Co., which operates 10 northern Kentucky Wendy’s franchises, paid a $16,160 civil penalty after investigators found 14- and 15-year-olds operating prohibited kitchen equipment. The company also paid $11,482 in back wages to 37 hourly employees after overtime calculations excluded production bonuses.
EDGEWOOD, KY – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Sinkula Investments Ltd. Co. – operator of 10 northern Kentucky Wendy’s franchise locations – has paid a civil money penalty of $16,160 for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).