A Chick-fil-A franchise in North Carolina has been fined more than $6,000, after investigators from the Department of Labor concluded it broke federal child labor laws by allowing three under-18 employees to "operate, load or unload a trash compactor."
The judgment was delivered against Good Name 22:1 LLC of Hendersonville, North Carolina, which was operating as a Chick-fil-A.
As a result, the restaurant was fined a total of $6,450 for the violations.
Investigators also concluded the franchise paid some employees, who were directing traffic, in meal vouchers rather than wages, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. This inquiry by the Department's wage and hour division led to $235 in back wages being paid to seven employees.
Commenting on the ruling, Labor Department Wage and Hour Division District Director Richard Blaylock said: "Child labor laws ensure that when young people work, the work does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities.
"In addition, employers are responsible to pay workers for all of the hours worked and the payment must be made in cash or legal tender."
In August, a separate Chick-fil-A franchise in Florida was fined $12,478 for child labor violations.
Brito Enterprises of Tampa, which was "operating as Chick-Fil-A Tampa Stadium," allowed 17 workers, aged either 14 or 15, to "work past 7 p.m. or more than 3 hours during a school day between Labor Day and June 1."
This also violated the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor provisions.
Nicolas Ratmiroff, the Labor Department wage and hours district director in Tampa, Florida, commented: "Employers must familiarize themselves with the working conditions that come with hiring minor employees. While gaining meaningful work experience is a good thing, it should not interfere with a child's educational opportunities.
"We encourage employers to access our Youthrules.gov website or contact the Wage and Hour Division to learn how to keep these young workers safe on the job."
Newsweek reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment.
In another investigation earlier this month, the Department of Labor found 13 McDonald's franchises in the greater Pittsburgh area broke child labor laws, involving 101 employees.
A McDonald's spokesperson told Newsweek: "While franchisees make local decisions for their businesses, including around labor and employment practices, they must comply with all state and federal laws, and we expect them to uphold our values in everything they do.
"McDonald's and our franchisees do not take lightly the positive impact we can deliver—and therefore the profound responsibility we carry—when someone works at a McDonald's, particularly as their first job."
In November, a New Jersey healthcare provider was forced to pay $625,000 to Black and Hispanic nurses, after a Department of Labor review concluded they had been discriminated against.
A care home provider in Arizona was ordered to pay $521,905 to employees last month, and issued with a fine after the Labor Department concluded it engaged in "wage theft" against employees.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
