10 Fast-Food Joints That Treat Their Workers Well
Profitability and stunning global expansion aside, now is not an ideal time to be a fast food corporation. Recent studies link fast food prices to child obesity rates, and this past summer thousands of employees of national chains like McDonalds and Burger King staged protests in 60 U.S. cities. Striking for better wages, the demonstrations were part of a yearlong campaign for labor rights in the service sector.
Fortunately, for conscientious diners who are short on time but long on principle, many quick-service eateries—from an upstanding national burger chain to a Civil Rights landmark in Washington, D.C.—are dedicated to both high-quality ingredients and workers’ rights. Here are 10 places to feel good fast.
Tyler Mallory1/10Five Guys Burgers and Fries, National
The only national chain on our list, Five Guys is consistently lauded by nonprofit organization Restaurant Opportunities Center United for its commitment to creating healthy, happy workplaces. Impressively, some 50 percent of Five Guys’ current staffers at 1,000 locations have been promoted due to robust reviewing procedures, and all receive paid sick leave—a bold departure from the practices of similarly sized chains like Panda Express. While Obama’s favorite burger may not be certified organic, Five Guys’ chuck is made from humanely raised steer and heifer, and its proteins and produce are never frozen. After all, nationwide integrity is a dish best served warm. (Credit: Courtesy Five Guys)
2/10Ben’s Chili Bowl, Washington, DC
A progressive pioneer for 55 years, this U Street landmark has dished out half-smokes and hot sandwiches to everyone from Miles Davis to Martin Luther King Jr. Ben’s made headlines for staying open during D.C.’s anti-rioting curfews in the 1960s, and, 20 years later, when the construction of the Metro Green Line shuttered every business on the block, Ben’s remained a beacon of baked beans and cheese fries for hungry construction workers. The business is a family affair: descendants of the original founder work the floor, and most of the staff has been on the books for at least 16 years. All receive paid leave and health insurance options, and create epically awesome, chili-topped burgers made with local produce and 100% Angus beef. (Credit: Flickr user Dale Chumbley)
20093/10Modmarket, Multiple Locations, CO
Boulder original, made-to-order menu items span gluten-free pizzas topped with nitrate-free Creminelli pepperoni, and sandwiches made with Colorado’s own hormone-free, Red Bird chickens. Full-time, salaried workers receive paid leave and health insurance, and all staff receive wages that exceed the federal minimum by nearly 30 percent and bi-annual reviews to promote internal growth. Need proof? The company is expanding into Houston, Texas, in the coming months, and Peter Stewart, a former Modmarket salad-cook-turned-regional-manager, will head up the opening team. (Credit: Courtesy Modmarket)
4/10Moo Cluck Moo, Multiple Locations, MI
Goofy name aside, this burgeoning Detroit-area chain is serious about its food. Burgers and fried chicken sandwiches are made with antibiotic- and hormone-free meats, and all bacon is made from Eden Farms’ acorn-fed, Berkshire heirloom pork. Michigan’s family-owned Northwoods brand provides the all-natural sodas, and milkshakes are made with ice cream from nearby Calder Dairy. MCM employees start at $12 per hour, then are bumped up to $14 per hour after six months of employment. They also have the opportunity to be trained as certified bakers. (Credit: Courtesy Moo Cluck Moo)
5/10Burgerville, Multiple Locations, Pacific Northwest
At this Vancouver-based mini-chain, burgers are made with hormone-free, grass-fed beef, and breakfast sandwiches feature eggs from antibiotic- and cage-free hens. If you’re wondering if that Portland branch’s milkshake is local, the answer is yes: blackberries from Oregon’s Liepold Farms are used in seasonal smoothies, alongside Portland’s own Sunshine Dairy ice cream. Food waste is composted, used cooking oil is converted to biofuel and the company purchases wind power credits for all electricity use. Better still, hourly employees can opt into $30-a-month insurance plans, which cover health, dental, and life insurance for themselves and their families. (Credit: Courtesy Burgerville)
6/10Midwood Smokehouse, Charlotte, NC
Barbecue joints rarely exemplify healthy living, but Midwood Smokehouse keeps things saucy. The CFO began as a server, so the non-hierarchical atmosphere includes annual advancement reviews, opportunities to train in other sections of the restaurant, and paid vacation time. The kitchen sources local, hormone-free poultry for crowd-pleasers like hickory-smoked turkey and pulled chicken in tangy South Carolina mustard sauce. And the bar makes excellent local draft picks, pouring stellar Carolinian craft beers like Big Boss Brass Penny from Raleigh, Asheville’s Highland Gaelic Ale, and Charlotte’s own Olde Mecklenberg. (Credit: Courtesy Midwood Smokehouse)
7/10Burger Lounge, San Diego, CA
With seven locations across San Diego, Burger Lounge has cornered the market on sustainable sandwiches. Its single-source, grass-fed beef comes from just two farms, turkey burgers are made from free-range birds, and newly launched lamb burgers are made with all-natural, grass-fed ewes. All food waste is composted, post-industrial packaging is biodegradable, and used cooking oil goes on to power delivery vehicles. Employees tend to be promoted from within thanks to 90-day and annual reviews, and those who work at least 25 hours per week are eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits after just 90 days on staff. (Credit: Courtesy Burger Lounge)
8/10Tender Greens, Multiple Locations, CA
Founded by Four Seasons– and Chez Panisse–trained chefs, these California counter joints serve farm-fresh fast food. Local purveyors like ReRide Ranch and Mary’s Free Range Chicken provide ingredients for signature salads and sandwiches, all of which top out at about $12 a piece. At 12 locations across the state, employees receive paid sick leave and can apprentice to learn skills like butchering, cheese making and brewing. Tender Greens also has a community outreach program, Sustainable Life Project, that teaches culinary skills to at-risk teens. All who complete the three-month program are guaranteed a job with the company. (Credit: Courtesy Tender Greens)
9/10Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Ann Arbor, MI
Professors, football fans, and the parents-weekend crowd all convene at this deli and specialty foods shop one mile from the University of Michigan campus. The sandwich menu proudly highlights local purveyors like Brownwood Farms, Corridor Sausage Co., and The Brinery alongside Zingerman’s own house-made corned beef, pastrami and baked-on-the-premises breads. The 20-plus-year-old delicatessen provides its workers some of the best benefits in the industry, including subsidized health and dental care for both hourly and salaried staff, paid vacation and sick days, plus 401(k) eligibility after one year of employment. Last year, Zingerman’s partners vowed to reevaluate company-wide pay scale as well, citing a goal of providing a “thrive-able wage” well beyond the national minimum for all employees. (Credit: Erica Bertram)
10/10Boloco, Multiple Locations
This East Coast burrito chain uses humanely raised meats and organic tofu in “globally inspired” stoner fare like the Bangkok Thai burrito, which is made with antibiotic- and hormone-free chicken, and served on recycled bamboo plates. The 20-plus locations span Boston to Bethesda, Maryland, and all are Certified Green courtesy of LED lighting, Paperstone countertops, and low-flow faucets. Employees can earn up to $17 an hour, and starting salaries are 30% higher than minimum wage. The company also provides $50 monthly transportation stipends, and covers English as a second language instruction for interested workers. (Credit: Courtesy Boloco)
