The owners of seven Little Caesars franchises in Tennessee have been accused by federal officials of violating child labor laws and underpaying their employees.
Now they face more than $162,000 in fines.
The US Department of Labor imposed the fines after investigators said the franchisees allowed 15-year-old employees to use “dangerous” equipment and work long hours during the school week. Officials said the violations occurred at seven locations in Antioch, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville.
“Child labor laws are designed to ensure that young workers safely gain valuable work experience without compromising their safety and education,” said Juan Coria, regional administrator for the Pay and Hours Division in Atlanta.
Officials identified the franchisees as JJ Pizza Service LLC and S&S Pizza LLC, neither of whom could be reached for comment.
A Little Caesars spokesperson did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on March 31.
According to the Labor Department, researchers noted that Little Caesars franchisees didn’t account for all the hours their employees worked and, as a result, didn’t pay them minimum wages and overtime. As a result, they got about $1,625 in back wages for 21 employees.
Researchers also saw 15-year-old workers “prepare food for baking, remove food from ovens and operate a vertical stand mixer” — activities that labor officials consider “dangerous.”
In addition, employers allowed 15-year-old workers to work after 7 p.m. and more than 18 hours in a school week, as well as after 9 p.m. and more than 40 hours in a week when there was no school — all violations of federal child labor standards. officials said.
Federal regulations allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work a limited number of hours in “harmless jobs,” which are:
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Three hours on a school day
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18 hours in a school week
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Eight o’clock on a non-school day
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40 hours in a non-school week
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Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., except June 1 through Labor Day, when those hours are extended to 9 p.m.
The Department of Labor has imposed a civil fine of $161,050 on the owners of Little Caesars for the alleged child labor violations.
In the past two years, officials said they have identified child labor violations among more than 190 food service workers in the Southeast. As a result, employers had to pay more than $1 million in fines.
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