COLUMBIA, SC – Operators of four well-known fast food restaurant locations illegally employed workers under the age of 18 at hours and in occupations that jeopardized their safety, a series of investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor has found.

Part of a cross-regional food services initiative in the Southeast by the department’s Wage and Hour Division, the investigations identified violations by operators of Subway, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Burger King and Frodo’s Pizza locations across the state.

“Restaurant industry employers must understand and comply with child labor laws concerning hours and occupations,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Jamie Benefiel in Columbia, South Carolina. “Child labor laws exists to ensure that young workers gain valuable workplace experience, but not at the expense of their education or safety. Industry employers, workers and their parents should contact us with their questions about youth employment laws. The kinds of violations found in these South Carolina investigations – and the penalties associated with them – could have been avoided.”

Investigators found the following violations of the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act:

• Subway:
  • Harvey Restaurant Co., operator of two Greenville locations and two in Travelers Rest, allowed 13 minor employees between the ages of 14 and 15 to work past 9 p.m. during summer months. The division assessed the employer a $4,491 civil money penalty.
  • Pleasantway...

Read Full Story: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20220209-0