McDonald’s franchisee fined for using ten-year olds as unpaid workers
A Kentucky-based McDonald’s franchisee has been found to have violated federal labor laws, by using children – some as young as 10 – as unpaid workers. The children, who prepared and distributed food orders; worked at a Drive-Thru window, and operated the register, would sometimes be working till as late as 2am in the morning, found the Department of Labor. All-told, DOL investigators found the store employed 24 minors under the age of 16 to work more than legally-permitted hours. “These reports are unacceptable, deeply troubling and run afoul of the high expectations we have for the entire McDonald’s brand,” commented Tiffanie Boyd, senior vice president and chief people officer at McDonald’s USA. She added: “It is not lost on us the significant responsibility we carry to ensure a positive and safe experience for everyone under the Arches.” The DOL issued fines of nearly $40,000.