I wanted to share a recent development that really highlights the importance of ensuring compliance with labor laws—especially when it comes to protecting young workers. The U.S. Department of Labor recently settled with El Mazatlan, a restaurant chain based in Kentucky, after finding serious violations of federal child labor laws. As part of the settlement, the company was ordered to pay $250,000 in penalties. The investigation revealed that 37 minors, aged 14 and 15, were working beyond the legally allowed hours, and to top it off, they even had a 13-year-old on the job, which is below the legal age limit for non-agricultural work.
But the penalties don’t stop there. El Mazatlan has also agreed to implement stricter training and compliance measures across their management team to prevent future violations. This includes things like creating child labor training materials, regularly auditing their equipment for safety compliance, and making sure that anyone under 18 isn’t working with hazardous machinery. Over the next five years, they’ll face unannounced inspections to ensure they’re following the rules.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t just child labor violations. The company was also found guilty of wage violations, like deducting uniform costs from employees’ wages, which dropped some workers’ pay below the federal minimum wage. And if that wasn’t enough, three salaried employees weren’t paid overtime when they should have been. After the investigation, the Department of Labor recovered over $100,000 in back wages and damages for 168 employees.
This is a reminder to all of us in the business world: compliance with labor laws isn’t optional. There are plenty of free resources out there, like the YouthRules! initiative, which provides great guidance for employers on how to create safe, compliant work environments for teens while giving them positive work experiences. Let’s all make sure we’re doing our part to protect the next generation of workers.
Question:
What is the maximum number of hours a 14 or 15-year-old can work when school is in session under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)?
A) 4 hours per day and 18 hours per week
B) 6 hours per day and 24 hours per week
C) 3 hours per day and 18 hours per week
D) 5 hours per day and 20 hours per week
Answer: C) 3 hours per day and 18 hours per week
Rationale:
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 14 and 15-year-olds can work a maximum of 3 hours per day on school days and 18 hours per week when school is in session. On non-school days, they can work up to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week when school is not in session. There are also restrictions on the times they can work, typically not before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. except during the summer months when they can work until 9 p.m. These rules ensure that minors’ work does not interfere with their education.
