Wendy’s franchise broke child labor laws in 9 states, Kentucky company agrees to fine
The owner of Wendy’s and Fazoli’s restaurant franchises broke child labor laws at almost 100 stores in nine states, the U.S. Department of Labor said.
Manna Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, agreed to pay a $157,114 civil fine for breaking child labor rules at 99 restaurants, the department said.
Investigators say the restaurants allowed 14- and 15-year-old employees to work outside of the hours they’re allowed by federal law. They learned that 446 minors were on the clock before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on school nights, worked more than three hours on school days and more than eight hours on other days, the labor department said.
The stores are in Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Colorado, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Nebraska, Missouri and Minnesota, according to the department.
“Child labor laws exist to ensure that when young people work, the work does not jeopardize their health and well-being or educational opportunities,” said Karen Garnett-Civils, a district director for the labor department in Louisville.
See the full list of stores on the Department of Labor’s website.
