2024 Ends, 2025 Begins with More Attacks on Food Service Workers

St. Louis, MO (WorkersCompensation.com) – Employees at a Steak and Shake were shaken up after a group of people attacked them on New Year’s Day.

The attack was one of several that happened across the country in the waning days of 2024, and the very beginning of 2025.

Police in St. Louis, Mo., said a group of people were inside the St. Louis Steak ‘n Shake around 3 a.m. on Jan 1 when an employee asked them to not smoke. The request started an argument, officials said, which escalated. Some of the people in the group jumped over the restaurant’s counter and walked into the cooking are to confront employees. Some employees in the dining area held members of the customer group back as other members of the group threw things at employees, reports said. One of the suspects punched two employees, officials said.

While none of the employees reported needing medical attention, they did say they were rattled by the experience. Members of the group who attacked the employees ran away before the police arrived, officials said.

In Washington, D.C., a Chipotle store has filed a police report after a customer attacked its workers over double meat and condiments.

According to WUSA9, the Chipotle restaurant and the employee who was attacked filed a police report against a customer who hit an employee after a video of the attack went viral. According to the report, a customer walked into the Brentwood restaurant and demanded a refund for her order.

The customer told workers that she had ordered the burrito bowl through UberEats and that it was wrong when it arrived. Employees explained to her that she would have to get a refund through the delivery app, and not through the store. Roberto Hernandez, a Chipotle employee, said that’s when things escalated. Both he and his manager tried to explain to the woman that she needed to deal with the issue through UberEats. Instead, she demanded they remake her order.

When things got heated, Hernandez decided to disengage from the situation.

“I was mad, upset. But I’m a man you know I can’t hit a female," Hernandez told WUSA9. "So I walked away.” 

The woman then walked behind the counter and started to make her own burrito bowl, something forbidden by health department rules. Hernandez tried to take the bowl away from her and she hit him then threw the bowl at him.

When video of the incident went viral, Chipotle and the employee filed police reports documenting their employee’s side of the story.

“At Chipotle, the health and safety of our employees is our greatest priority,” the company said in a statement. “We are grateful for their hard work every day and do not condone guests who mistreat our team members. We are working cooperatively with local law enforcement and hope justice will be served for the individual who did not treat our employees with the respect that they deserve.”

The woman in the video, who has not been named, told WUSA9 she is somewhat remorseful, but that her order was wrong and the employees of the restaurant took her food.

“I’m not saying what I did was right but I’m not saying what I did was wrong. I was right to a certain extent.” she told WUSA9 as she urged Chipotle to release the surveillance video from the incident.

She said her order was missing chicken and condiments and that when she complained, the store employees told her to take it up with UberEats. When she asked them to re-make her bowl instead, they refused, she said, claiming that her ticket did not say double-meat. Then, she said, they took her original order and refused to give it back. That’s when she decided to go behind the counter.

“I understand you can’t go behind the counter but once my food was taken, it was like you’re taking my property. You have a right to chase them, not assault them but take your belongings.” she said.

She told the news agency that the restaurant should have re-made her order with extra condiments for the inconvenience.

“I do apologize I feel bad it ended that way and he got assaulted. But again, it was men that came and assaulted me. When I made my food I was assaulted by one crew member.” she said.

While the woman didn’t get a refund, she did take one of the bowls that she made. She also said she plans on suing Chipotle.

According to the report, the incident was categorized as simple assault. It’s unclear if she will be charged with any crime.

And in Charleston, S.C., police are trying to identify a man they allege assaulted a Five Below employee while they were stealing.

On Dec. 21, police reports said, the man was caught trying to steal several items from the discount chain’s store on the Savannah Highway. When an employee confronted him, he attacked them, leaving them with several scratches on their arm.

Detectives say the man is now wanted for assault and strong-arm robbery. The employee was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

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