Dunkin'
Flagged · AvoidAmerica's largest donut chain, now owned by private equity firm Roark Capital, with a long record of child labor and wage violations across its franchise network.
Last updated June 11, 2026
↓ Skip to 6 ethical alternativesReasons to avoid
Issues span:LaborEnvironment
- A New York City investigation found that a Dunkin' franchisee operating 24 Manhattan and Queens locations routinely violated the city's Fair Workweek Law, failing to give workers 14 days' advance notice of schedules and not paying required premiums for last-minute changes. The franchisee, Salz Management LLC, agreed in March 2026 to pay $1.65 million and $1.5 million in restitution to 760 workers and $155,000 in civil penalties.
- The EEOC filed a disability discrimination suit in April 2026 against a group of 16 Dunkin' franchises in New England, alleging they enforced a "100% healed" policy that barred employees from working if they had any physical or mental restrictions regardless of whether an accommodation was possible. The franchisees agreed to pay $250,000 and eliminate the blanket policy under a four-year consent decree.
- Dunkin' franchisees racked up over $1.75 million in child labor citations from the Massachusetts AG between 2022 and 2023, with violations including employing minors during prohibited hours, without work permits, and without adult supervision after 8pm.
- In April 2025, the Massachusetts AG cited Dunkin' franchisee Cafua Management — operating over 80 locations — for child labor violations including illegal work hours and failure to obtain youth work permits.
- Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Labor has completed over 450 wage investigations at Dunkin' stores, resulting in more than $1.5 million in back wages owed to over 3,600 workers for minimum wage and overtime violations.
- Dunkin's parent company Inspire Brands — owned by private equity firm Roark Capital — publicly boasted about its role in killing the federal Raise the Wage Act and blocking a $15 minimum wage from the 2021 COVID relief bill.
- Despite serving millions of customers daily, Dunkin' relies almost entirely on single-use cups and lids. Paper cups with plastic coatings and plastic cold-drink cups are not recyclable and end up in landfills.
Ethical alternatives
Retail Coffee
Peet's Coffee
Premium coffee roaster with ethically sourced beans.
🤝 Fair Trade
Find Local Independent Cafes
Support your neighborhood coffee shop.
📍 Local Business
Common Questions
- Is Dunkin' ethical?
- Dunkin' franchisees accumulated over $1.75 million in child labor citations from the Massachusetts AG between 2022 and 2023, with violations including employing minors during prohibited hours without work permits. The U.S. DOL has also completed over 450 wage investigations at Dunkin' stores since 2010, resulting in more than $1.5 million in back wages owed to over 3,600 workers.
- Why are people boycotting Dunkin'?
- Child labor violations are the most cited reason, with new citations issued against a franchisee operating over 80 locations as recently as April 2025. Dunkin's parent company Inspire Brands, owned by private equity firm Roark Capital, also publicly boasted about its role in killing the federal Raise the Wage Act and blocking a $15 minimum wage.
- What are the best ethical alternatives to Dunkin'?
- Your local independent coffee shop keeps money in your community and often pays fairer wages. Pachamama Coffee is a farmer-owned cooperative offering organic, Fair Trade beans. Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative committed to Fair Trade with a wide range of coffees and teas.