DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA (WHP) — A federal investigation found three Dunkin’ locations in Hershey, Hummelstown and Palmyra violated child labor laws, allowing 14-and-15-year-old employees to work more hours than legally permitted.
“What tipped you off to start this investigation?” CBS 21’s Samantha York asked.
“When we do investigations, it’s because we need to look for compliance with our regulations,” Wage and Hour Division Wilkes-Barre Assistant District Director Jo Ann Gregory responded. “When we start investigations, we don’t disclose the reason why we are there.”
The U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division found franchise owner Akshar Ashish LLC in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, involving 39 minors. Teens were working more than three hours on school days, more than 18 hours in a school week and past 7 p.m. on school nights.
“During the summer, there is some leeway with that but they cannot work after nine,” Gregory said. “They were working past those hours.”
The division has seen child labor investigations and violations increase since 2015. In 2021, nearly 3,000 minors were found to be employed in violation of the law, resulting in employers paying nearly $3.4 million in civil money penalties.
“Under our regulations, we want to ensure the minors go to school as well as to have an experience of working,” Gregory explained.
Following the investigation in this case, the employer was fined over $24,000, required to complete child labor training and have...
A new exchange of sharp political statements has emerged after US President Donald Trump made claims on Truth Social that were directly rejected by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghaliba...