McDonald’s Franchises are fined by DOL for hiring 10-year-old Kids. The investigation was conducted by the department’s Wage and Hour Division.
Two 10-year-old workers at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant were found among many violations of federal labor laws committed by three Kentucky McDonald’s franchise operators. The investigations are part of the division’s ongoing effort to stop child labor abuses in the Southeast region.
“Too often, employers fail to follow the child labor laws that protect young workers,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director Karen Garnett-Civils in Louisville, Kentucky.
“Under no circumstances should there ever be a 10-year-old child working in a fast-food kitchen around hot grills, ovens, and deep fryers”, Karen Garnett added.
Additionally, Bauer Food, Archways Richwood, and Bell Restaurant Group – which operate 62 locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio – collectively had 305 minors working at their restaurants illegally due to this act they must pay $212,544 in civil penalties.
The Bauer Food additionally had 24 minors under the age of 16 workings longer hours than legally permitted. Bauer Food must pay $39,711.
The Federal child labor regulations limit the types of jobs minor-aged employees can perform and the hours they can work. Hours limits for 14- and 15-year-olds include:
- Work must be performed outside of school hours.
- No more than 3 hours on a school day – including Fridays – and no more than 8 hours on a non-school day.
- No more than 18 hours during a school week and no more than 40 hours during a non-school week.
- No earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 7 p.m., except between June 1 and Labor Day when the evening hour is extended to 9 p.m.
“We are seeing an increase in federal child labor violations, including allowing minors to operate equipment or handle types of work that endangers them or employs them for more hours or later in the day than federal law allows,” said Garnett-Civils.
“An employer who hires young workers must know the rules. An employer, parent or young worker with questions can contact us for help understanding their obligations and rights under the law”, Garnett-Civils added.
