Little Caesars’ operator in Farmington Hills violated child labor laws, fined $26k

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    A Little Caesars’ franchisee was fined over $26,000 for employing children, violating labor regulations
    
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    A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found five children illegally working at the pizza shop. They also operated heavy machinery and worked past allowed hours
    
  • 
    Rules around the allowable hours for 14 and 15-year-olds to work become less restrictive in the summer
    

• 
  A Little Caesars’ franchisee was fined over $26,000 for employing children, violating labor regulations
  
• 
  A U.S. Department of Labor investigation found five children illegally working at the pizza shop. They also operated heavy machinery and worked past allowed hours
  
• 
  Rules around the allowable hours for 14 and 15-year-olds to work become less restrictive in the summer
  

(FOX 2):The U.S. Department of Labor reported this week that the employer of a Little Caesars restaurant had been fined tens of thousands of dollars for violating child labor laws.

Children under the legal age were found to be using hazardous equipment and working past their permitted hours at the Farmington Hills pizza place after an inquiry.

Additionally, it discovered that a number of minors were engaged in unlawful labor, which violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Look more closely:

The operator of the Little Caesars pizza restaurant, JMP Pizza Inc., was fined $26,341 by the Wage and Hour Division of the labor department for allowing youngsters to work after hours and with heavy machinery.

One child under the age of sixteen used a pizza dough machine and an oven that was heated to between 500 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Children between the ages of 14 and 15 are not permitted to bake.

In addition, three other kids put in more hours and worked later than the law permits.

A news release from the U.S. Department of Labor states that children under the age of sixteen are prohibited from working after Labor Day at 7 p.m. and prior to May 31.

Children are permitted to labor until nine o’clock in the summer, when the regulations are a little more lenient. On days off from school, no more than eight hours of work may be done.

What they’re saying:

According to a labor department division director, it’s critical that young people acquire critical skills as they mature.

but “we must protect children and ensure their first jobs are safe jobs and do not interfere with their education or well-being,” he stated.

“The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for safe work experiences but restricts the employment of young workers in certain jobs and during certain hours, and provides for penalties when employers do not follow the law,” stated Timolin Mitchell.

By educating parents and businesses about acceptable employment practices for youth, the YouthRules! campaign encourages responsible behavior.

What you are able to do:

For those who require assistance, the Wage and Hours Division also maintains a toll-free helpline.

The agency’s toll-free helpline number is 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), which both employers and employees can use.

• This report was based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

This report was based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor.