Key Highlights :
The US Labor Department recently conducted an investigation of three McDonald's franchisees in Louisville, Kentucky and found that two 10-year-olds were among the 300 children employed with little or no pay. The three franchisees were fined a total of US$212,000 for their actions.
The investigation found that 24 minors under the age of 16 were employed by Bauer Food LLC, which operates 10 McDonald's locations. Among these minors were two 10-year-old children who were not paid for their work. The Labor Department reported that the two children worked late into the night, preparing and distributing food orders, cleaning the store, working at the drive-thru window, operating a register, and even operating a deep fryer, which is a prohibited task for workers under 16.
Franchise owner-operator Sean Bauer stated that the two 10-year-olds cited in the Labor Department's statement were visiting their parent, a night manager, and weren't employees. He added that the organization has since reiterated the child visitation policy to employees.
Federal child labor regulations put strict limits on the types of jobs children can perform and the hours they can work. The Kentucky investigations are part of an ongoing effort by the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division to stop child labor abuses in the Southeast. The division's Director Karen Garnett-Civils stated, “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.”
In addition, Walton-based Archways Richwood LLC and Louisville-based Bell Restaurant Group I LLC allowed minors ages 14 and 15 to work beyond allowable hours. Franchisee owners for those groups didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.
McDonald's USA spokeswoman Tiffanie Boyd said, “These reports are unacceptable, deeply troubling and run afoul of the high expectations we have for the entire McDonald's brand. We are committed to ensuring our franchisees have the resources they need to foster safe workplaces for all employees and maintain compliance with all labor laws.”
It is crucial that employers adhere to the labor laws in order to protect the safety and rights of their employees, especially those who are minors. The US Labor Department is taking an active role in ensuring that employers are held accountable for their actions and that the rights of minors are not violated.