November 27, 2023

Department of Labor finds child labor violations by operators of 5 McDonald’s locations in Western Pennsylvania; assesses $26K in penalties

PITTSBURGH – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor has found the operator of five McDonald’s franchise locations in the greater Pittsburgh area employed 34 children to work later and longer than permitted by child labor laws.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division learned Endor Inc., based in Cranberry Township, violated federal child labor regulations by employing 14- and 15-year-old children to work outside permissible hours as follows:

October 13, 2023

Federal court prohibits Hebron distribution center from ‘oppressively’ violating child labor laws by employing children illegally

HEBRON, KY The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent judgment that requires the operator of a Hebron warehouse and distribution center to stop employing children illegally and to not violate federal child labor laws in the future.

September 28, 2023

US Department of Labor recovers $47K in back wages, damages for employees of Utah Chick-Fil-A franchisee, fines employer $187K

ST. GEORGE, UT – Federal investigators have assessed $187,467in civil penalties for employing 237 minors in violation of child labor provisions  and recovered nearly $47,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 101 employees at two St. George Chick-Fil-A franchise restaurants that required workers to clock out for every break under 20 minutes without compensation, the U.S. Department of Labor announced today.

September 18, 2023

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. descubre que el administrador de un centro turístico de Palm Coast se negó a brindar un espacio privado a sus empleadas para extraerse la leche para los recién nacidos, como lo exige la ley federal

PALM COAST, FL – El Departamento de Trabajo de EE. UU. determinó que un centro turístico y spa de Palm Coast violó las leyes federales que exigen a los empleadores brindar adaptaciones en el lugar de trabajo para las trabajadoras que necesitan extraerse leche materna para sus bebés, en particular un lugar designado para que puedan extraerse la leche de forma privada.

September 18, 2023

US Department of Labor finds Palm Coast resort operator denied employee private space to express milk for newborn, as federal law requires

PALM COAST, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor determined that a Palm Coast resort and spa violated federal laws requiring employers to provide workplace accommodations for workers who need to pump breast milk for their infants, particularly a designated place for them to express milk privately. Additionally, the employer violated federal child labor laws, employing children between the ages of 14 and 15 to work longer than federal law permits.

September 7, 2023

Sawmill operator agrees to compliance with federal child labor laws after Wisconsin teen suffers fatal injuries operating dangerous machinery

GREEN BAY, WI – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent order and judgment against sawmill operator Florence Hardwoods LLC following the death of a child. The order requires the Florence County company to place labels and signage to prevent children under age 18 from using dangerous equipment and entering the company’s sawmill and planer buildings.

August 22, 2023

Department of Labor finds operators of 13 South Carolina Sonic Drive-Ins illegally employed 91 minors to work longer, later than allowed

COLUMBIA, SC – As part of its continuing effort to reverse a significant national increase in child labor violations by employers, the U.S.

August 21, 2023

US Department of Labor finds 5 Florida skating rinks illegally employing minors later than allowed, assesses $26K in civil penalties

Employers:    Astro Skating Center of Brandon LLC, operating Astro Skate Family Fun Center of Brandon

                        750 W. Robertson St., Brandon, FL 33511

                        Astro Skating Center of Ormond Beach LLC, operating Astro Skate Ormond Beach

                        250 US-1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174

                        CMC Realty Inc., operating Astro Skating Center Tarpon Springs

August 3, 2023

Department of Labor recovers $21K for 23 workers after finding minimum wage, overtime, child labor violations at Montgomery restaurant

Employer:    Alley Enterprises LLC, operating as Central Restaurant, 129 Coosa St., Montgomery, AL 36104

July 27, 2023

Department of Labor, Interagency Task Force announce recent actions to combat exploitative child labor with new partnerships, innovative tactics, ramped up enforcement

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor and its partners from the Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation today announced its recent actions to hold companies accountable for violating federal child labor laws.

July 7, 2023

Nationwide food manufacturer agrees to companywide compliance with child labor laws after investigation finds 2 teens employed illegally in Minnesota

CHANDLER, MN – A federal court in Minnesota has entered a consent judgment that requires a national food manufacturing company to comply with the federal child labor laws at all of its production facilities and warehouses nationwide, and to take significant steps to comply with these laws in the future.

May 30, 2023

Department of Labor identifies more than 170 child labor violations by operators of 6 Reno-area Sonic Drive-In franchise locations

RENO, NV – Federal investigators have found the operator of six Nevada Sonic Drive-In locations illegally allowed 14- and 15-year-old teenagers to work more hours and at times not permitted by federal child labor regulations and assigned them to operate manual deep fryers, a task considered a hazardous occupation.

May 2, 2023

Three McDonald’s franchisees in Kentucky pay $212K in fines after federal investigations find 305 minors — including 10-year-olds — working illegally

LOUISVILLE, KY – Working in a kitchen late at night near dangerous cooking equipment is a reality for many adults in the food service industry. But finding 10-year-old kids in such a work environment is a cause for concern and action by the U.S. Department of Labor.

April 21, 2023

Operator of Zaxby’s franchise in Georgia pays $15K in penalties after federal investigation finds child labor violations at Clarksville restaurant

Employer:      Mcdreams Enterprises Inc., operating as Zaxby’s

                        1660 441 Historic Highway N

                        Clarkesville, GA 30523

April 12, 2023

US Department of Labor focused on preventing child labor violations, protecting young workers in Southeast as summer hiring surge approaches

ATLANTA – With violations of child labor laws up 69 percent since 2018 and millions of minor-aged workers joining the U.S. workforce each year – many in seasonal summer jobs in the restaurant, retail and amusement industries – the U.S. Department of Labor is actively working to educate Southeast employers about their legal obligations and make sure young employees are kept safe at work and paid fully.