Two children were discovered working unpaid shifts at a local Mcdonald’s in Louisville. Investigators said the children would work up until 2 a.m.
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The 10-year-olds allegedly made and served meals, handled the drive-thru, operated the cash register, and cleaned the floor. According to the Daily Mail, one of the children was assigned to operate the deep fryer, which is prohibited for anyone under the age of 16 due to its classification as ‘hazardous equipment.’
They are among the 305 children discovered working illegally in a fast food restaurant by investigators from the United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. According to a statement, identical incidents are occurring in Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio. Child labor regulations were found to have been breached at 62 McDonald’s restaurants run by three franchises: Bauer Food LLC, Archways Richmond LLC, and Bell Restaurant Group LLC.
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Investigations reported Bauer Food LLC employed 24 employees under the age of 16 plus the two 10 years olds who were hired in August 2022. They worked 10 shifts between two to four hours a night. Although the minimum age is 14 but they are required to work a certain number of hours due to their age and are prohibited from working harzardous jobs.
The current child labor laws in the US prohibit children under the age of 14 from working, except in certain circumstances, such as working as a newspaper delivery person or in a family business. Children between the ages of 14 and 15 may work in certain jobs outside of school hours, but they are limited in the number of hours they can work and the types of work they can do. Children between the ages of 16 and 17 may work in most types of jobs, but they are also subject to limits on the number of hours they can work and the types of work they can do.
Investigators charged the franchise $39,711 in penalties and Archways Raymond, a franchise based in Walton, hired 242 14- and 15-year-olds who had early morning or late night shifts. The franchise was fined $143,566 in penalties. Bell Restaurant Group reportedly didn’t pay the teens overnight wages and was ordered to pay $14,730 in back wages and liquidated damages.
McDonald’s said in a statement that the findings were “deeply troubling.”
‘These reports are unacceptable, deeply troubling and run afoul of the high expectations we have for the entire McDonald’s brand. It is not lost on us the significant responsibility we carry to ensure a positive and safe experience for everyone under the Arches,’ said Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer Tiffanie Boyd to the Daily Mail.
‘I know how important it is that every restaurant fosters a culture of safety. As a mother whose teenage son proudly worked at our local McDonald’s, I feel this on a very personal level. 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.’