LOUISVILLE, KY (WKOW) – A franchisee that operates seven Wendy's and one Fazoli's in southern Wisconsin has been fined for violating child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Manna Inc. – a Louisville, Kentucky-based franchisee of 99 Wendy’s and Fazoli’s restaurants in nine states – will pay a civil money penalty of $157,114 after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
The company operates one Fazoli's and three Wendy's in Madison, two Wendy's in Janesville, one Wendy's each in Fitchburg and Sun Prairie. (Full list)
Investigators say they found violations involving 38 minors working at those eight locations.
WHD investigators determined Manna Inc. violated child labor requirements by allowing 14- and 15-year-old employees to work outside of legally approved hours, and for more hours than allowed by law,according to a news release.
Investigators found 446 minors worked before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on school nights, worked more than 3 hours on a school day or worked more than 8 hours on a non-school day – all FLSA violations.
“Child labor laws exist to ensure that when young people work, the work does not jeopardize their health and well-being or educational opportunities,” Wage and Hour Division District Director Karen Garnett-Civils, in Louisville, Kentucky said in a news release. “We encourage all employers to review their employment obligations and to contact the Wage and Hour Division for compliance assistance.”
WHD investigators also found the violations at restaurant locations in Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Tennessee.
For more information about the child labor standards, the FLSA and other laws enforced by WHD, contact the division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.
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