Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises

Chicago, United States

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is a Chicago-based restaurant group that operates a wide range of dining concepts—from casual eateries to upscale restaurants—known for creative, innovative, and trendsetting culinary and hospitality experiences across the United States.

CCI Score

-1.06

April 18

Latest Event

Political Contributions Profile and Its Implications

OpenSecrets data indicates that Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises made political contributions amounting to $115,644 during the 2022 cycle, while reporting no federal lobbying or outside spending. From an anti‐fascist perspective, even moderate corporate contributions can indirectly fuel political influence and the consolidation of power, raising concerns about complicity in the broader dynamics of corporate political influence.

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BYSTANDER

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is currently rated as a Bystander.

-1 to -4 CCI Score

Companies scoring here do little to oppose authoritarianism. Their inaction results in a passive endorsement of the status quo, as they neither actively resist oppression nor contribute to overt support for it.

Latest Events

FEB

06

2025

Political Contributions Profile and Its Implications
-9.81

OpenSecrets data indicates that Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises made political contributions amounting to $115,644 during the 2022 cycle, while reporting no federal lobbying or outside spending. From an anti‐fascist perspective, even moderate corporate contributions can indirectly fuel political influence and the consolidation of power, raising concerns about complicity in the broader dynamics of corporate political influence.
-10

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 26

The profile shows that Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises contributed $115,644 during the 2022 cycle without engaging in additional lobbying efforts. Although the contribution level is relatively modest, any corporate contribution to political campaigns can be seen as a potential enabler of political influence. From a left‐leaning, anti‑fascist lens, this level of political funding raises concerns about corporate complicity in shaping policies that could favor authoritarian tendencies.

Lettuce Entertain You Profile: Summary • OpenSecrets
JAN

15

2025

Positive Employee Support Program: 'Lettuce Help You Fund'
77.97

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises has showcased its commitment to ethical labor practices through its 'Lettuce Help You Fund' initiative, where non-supervisory employees voluntarily contribute a small amount per paycheck to support fellow colleagues in crisis. This program underscores the company's focus on worker welfare and community support within the restaurant industry.
+80

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 26

The 'Lettuce Help You Fund' initiative reflects strong internal labor support and ethical responsibility by providing financial assistance to employees facing catastrophic events. This effort enhances worker solidarity and promotes a caring corporate culture in an industry where such practices are not always the norm.

Our Culture of Caring - Lettuce Entertain You
MAR

31

2024

Public Activity Report Contributions - Q1 2024
-9.00

A review of the Chicago Board of Ethics public activity report reveals that Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises made political contributions during the period of January 1 to March 31, 2024. While transparency in such contributions is commendable, from an anti‑fascist perspective corporate political spending can raise concerns about the potential for undue influence on democratic processes and the risk of indirectly supporting authoritarian agendas.
-10

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 26

The documented political contributions, while fully disclosed, are concerning from an anti-fascist standpoint. Such corporate contributions can enable undue influence over political processes, potentially aligning with authoritarian practices. Given the broader context of rising fascism and the risk that corporate funds might support far-right or anti-democratic initiatives, this event is rated negatively.

City Of Chicago Board of Ethics - public activity report contributions
SEP

07

2022

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises Faces Deceptive Fee Lawsuit
-46.20

Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is being sued over allegations of deceptively adding undisclosed fees and surcharges to customer bills, potentially misleading consumers about the true cost of dining.
-60

Business Practices and Ethical Responsibility

March 26

The company is accused of engaging in unethical business practices by adding undisclosed surcharges to consumer bills. This deceitful practice not only violates consumer trust, but reflects poorly on its business ethics, aligning with actions that can bolster economic exploitation and undermine ethical corporate responsibilities.

Restaurant Group Faces Lawsuit Regarding ‘Deceptive Charges’ Added Onto Bills
JUN

15

2017

Lettuce Entertain You Criticized for Worker Termination Practices
-18.25

A lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court alleges that Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises engaged in retaliation and wrongful termination, including a demand to back-date paperwork to avoid penalties. This case raises serious concerns about the company's labor practices and its commitment to ethical treatment of workers.
-40

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 26

The complaint alleging wrongful termination and retaliation, including the unethical request to back-date documents, underscores significant issues in labor relations and human rights practices. This event reflects a failure to uphold fair labor standards, which is particularly concerning in the context of rising authoritarian business practices.

Lettuce Entertain You sued over worker termination