Worst Fast Food Chains to Work At
Millions of people work in fast food, but the experience isn’t the same everywhere. Some chains are known for low wages, chaotic schedules, or managers who drive people out as quickly as they hire them. Over time, a few names keep coming up when workers talk about the toughest places to hold a job in this industry.
Subway
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Investigations by the Department of Labor revealed over 17,000 wage and hour violations by Subway franchisees between 2000 and 2013. Chronic understaffing, ingredient storage concerns, and erratic work schedules leave many employees with little job security. Store closures in recent years have added another layer of uncertainty.
Dunkin’
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A particularly infamous incident occurred when a Baltimore location posted a sign offering free food to customers who reported employees speaking languages other than English. While the company removed the sign, it added fuel to ongoing criticism of its workplace culture.
Sonic
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In 2019, employees at three Ohio locations quit mid-shift after new management cut hourly wages from the state minimum to a tipped rate. Since fast food workers rarely receive tips, the change sparked outrage. Former employees even taped signs to the windows explaining why they walked out.
McDonald’s
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The world’s largest fast food chain has faced repeated accusations of wage theft and discrimination. In 2019, a $26 million settlement resolved California labor law violations. Even their own budgeting website once suggested workers take a second job to make ends meet.
Popeyes
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The 2019 chicken sandwich craze brought national attention, but behind the counter, it meant overwhelmed crews and unsafe conditions. One location went viral after an eight-year-old was spotted handling raw chicken due to understaffing. In another incident, fatal wounds over sandwich line-cutting made headlines.
Hardee’s / Carl’s Jr.
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A $1.45 million fine in Los Angeles for failing to pay minimum wage was followed by accusations of blocking investigators from speaking to staff. Its former CEO, Andy Puzder, withdrew from a nomination for U.S. Labor Secretary amid controversy over the company’s labor practices.
Wendy’s
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Low wages have long been a sticking point for Wendy’s employees. A 2020 controversy came after a franchise group was caught violating child labor laws by having minors work outside permitted hours. The company has also been criticized for refusing to join a farmworker program aimed at improving conditions for tomato pickers.
Burger King
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In New Zealand, the company faced a ban on hiring migrant workers for underpaying them. In the U.S., protests have called for a $15 minimum wage. Reports of unpaid overtime and wrongful terminations, like the 24-year employee in Canada who won damages after being fired over a meal, have kept public scrutiny high.
Jimmy John’s
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Workers have drawn attention to the chain’s lack of paid sick leave, with some alleging they were forced to work while ill. In 2011, several employees were fired after creating posters highlighting the food safety risk of sick workers making sandwiches.
Olive Garden
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Though better known for pasta than burgers, the Italian-style chain faces similar criticisms. Former staff have complained about endless breadsticks and salad refills straining already overworked servers. Plus, online accounts detail managers siding with unreasonable guests and strict cost controls that limit hours.
Cracker Barrel
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Servers report strict dress codes, including sock and tag checks before shifts, along with heavy workloads. Some say table assignments were manipulated to keep tips low, and Reddit accounts detail questionable manager behavior. Despite its family-friendly image, the chain’s behind-the-scenes culture has left many employees disillusioned.
KFC
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Workers have been central to the “Fight for $15” movement, who shared accounts of exhausting hours and injury on the job. Multiple lawsuits have alleged wage theft at franchise locations, and federal investigations uncovered widespread pay violations in South Carolina and Georgia.
Buffalo Wild Wings
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High-pressure game nights, late hours, and unruly customers make the sports bar chain a tough gig. Former employees cite messy kitchens and unhelpful management as major frustrations. While some locations are better than others, the combination of a noisy environment and demanding pace has pushed many workers to seek calmer jobs.
Arby’s
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Two separate incidents—one in 2004 and another in 2012—saw human fingers accidentally served in customer meals after employees injured themselves on slicers. While rare, such incidents fed into perceptions of a stressful and hazardous work environment.
Taco Bell
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Taco Bell’s internal demands are notorious. They follow a rigid food preparation system where every item is weighed to the fraction of an ounce and slows service under pressure. A 2016 settlement of $500,000 for unpaid lunch breaks highlighted labor issues that have also dogged the chain over the years.