Two McDonald’s franchises that control 16 locations in Louisiana and Texas were fined after violating labor laws by hiring more than 80 minors, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Tuesday.
CLB Investments LLC in Metairie, Louisiana, employed 72 workers aged 14 and 15 at its 12 restaurants in New Orleans, Kenner, Jefferson, and Metairie. The company also allowed the minors to work later and for longer hours than permitted by federal law.
Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division found that three of the child workers were allowed to operate manual deep fryers, which is prohibited for employees under 16 years of age.
The franchise was fined a total of $56,106 in civil penalties for the violations.
New Orleans owner and operator Chris Bardell said in a statement that he is committed to the safety of his workers.
“Since learning of these violations, I’ve introduced mandatory child labor law trainings for my restaurant managers and conducted regular audits to ensure we’re in compliance with labor regulations,” Bardell said.
The Labor Department found similar violations at four McDonald’s locations operated by Marwen & Son LLC in the cities of Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Leander in Texas.
Marwen & Son was fined $21,466 for the violations.
“Employers must never jeopardize the safety and well-being of young workers or interfere with their education,” said Betty Campbell, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division regional administrator in Dallas. “While learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up, an employer’s first obligation is to make sure minor-aged children are protected from potential workplace hazards.”
“These reports are unacceptable, deeply troubling and run afoul of the high expectations we have for the entire McDonald’s brand,” McDonald’s USA Chief People Officer Tiffanie Boyd said in a statement. “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.”
In May, the Labor Department announced that three other McDonald’s franchises had been fined for violating child labor laws at 62 locations across four states. These violations involved a total of more than 300 minors. The Labor Department also said it found two 10-year-olds working at a Louisville, Kentucky restaurant with no pay.
In a statement, franchise owner Sean Bauer said that the two 10-year-olds cited in the Labor Department’s report were visiting their parent, a night manager, and weren’t employees.
“Any ‘work’ was done at the direction of—and in the presence of—the parent without authorization by franchisee organization management or leadership,” he explained. Mr. Bauer adding that the franchise has since revised its employee child visitation policy.
