Now that the back-to-school rush has settled, employers with teenage workers may want to turn their attention to another issue that follows the school calendar: child labor compliance.
Recent developments present an interesting picture. The DOL continues to announce enforcement actions involving employers that allegedly allowed minors to work impermissible hours or perform prohibited tasks. At the same time, the agency has indicated that it is considering changes to some of the federal rules governing when younger teenagers may work.
For employers that rely on employees under 18 years old, it is an area worth watching.
Recent DOL activity demonstrates that child labor remains an enforcement issue.
In August 2026, the DOL announced that a South Carolina restaurant group paid $100,000 in civil money penalties for child labor and tip-retention violations after investigators found, among other things, that 14- and 15-year-old employees worked later and longer than federal law permits and that the...
A Wixom, Michigan, business accused of making false statements to obtain a loan has agreed to pay a settlement of just over $1.5 million after it was sued by the federal government, according to th...