[US] 10-year-olds found working at McDonald’s franchise

The US Department of Labor announced that child labour investigators found two 10-year-old children working at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant; sometimes until 2 a.m., CNN reports.

The startling news broke on May 2, after the child workers were discovered during an investigation into child labour law violations in the Southeast. 

The agency also reportedly found three franchisees that own more than 60 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio, “employed 305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers,” according to a Labor Department statement.

“Investigators from the department’s Wage and Hour Division found two 10-year-old workers at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant among many violations of federal labor laws committed by three Kentucky McDonald’s franchise operators,” the agency’s statement said. “Investigators also determined two 10-year-old children were employed – but not paid – and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.”

Speaking to CNN, Tiffanie Boyd - senior vice president and chief people officer at McDonald’s USA - 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.”

Franchisee Bauer Foods LLC reportedly confirmed to CNN that the two 10-year-olds allegedly employed at the branch were the children of a night manager and were visiting the parent at work. They were not approved by franchisee organization management to be in that part of the restaurant.

Two of the other franchisees - Archways Richwood and Bell Restaurant Group - did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

The three franchisees face a combined $212,754 in civil penalties for the child labour violations, the statement said.

“Too often, employers fail to follow the child labor laws that protect young workers,” Karen Garnett-Civils - the agency’s wage and hour division district director - said in a statement. “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.”

Source: CNN

(LInk and quotes via original reporting)

The US Department of Labor announced that child labour investigators found two 10-year-old children working at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant; sometimes until 2 a.m., CNN reports.

The startling news broke on May 2, after the child workers were discovered during an investigation into child labour law violations in the Southeast. 

The agency also reportedly found three franchisees that own more than 60 McDonald’s locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio, “employed 305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers,” according to a Labor Department statement.

“Investigators from the department’s Wage and Hour Division found two 10-year-old workers at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant among many violations of federal labor laws committed by three Kentucky McDonald’s franchise operators,” the agency’s statement said. “Investigators also determined two 10-year-old children were employed – but not paid – and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.”

Speaking to CNN, Tiffanie Boyd - senior vice president and chief people officer at McDonald’s USA - 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.”

Franchisee Bauer Foods LLC reportedly confirmed to CNN that the two 10-year-olds allegedly employed at the branch were the children of a night manager and were visiting the parent at work. They were not approved by franchisee organization management to be in that part of the restaurant.

Two of the other franchisees - Archways Richwood and Bell Restaurant Group - did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

The three franchisees face a combined $212,754 in civil penalties for the child labour violations, the statement said.

“Too often, employers fail to follow the child labor laws that protect young workers,” Karen Garnett-Civils - the agency’s wage and hour division district director - said in a statement. “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.”

Source: CNN

(LInk and quotes via original reporting)