DOL Focuses on Recent Child Labor Law Violations

FLSA Violations of Child Labor Laws

Child labor law violations are the current focus of a Department of Labor (DOL) crackdown. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulates child labor. It the law that sets the standards for restricting the hours children can work based on the school year and type of work. The FLSA is federal law and applies to all states across the nation.

Recent Child Labor Law Violations in the News

Packers Sanitation Services, Inc.

HR Morning reported that Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. was in violation of several aspects of the FLSA. The Wage and Hour Division of the DOL conducted an investigation. Their findings included the following:

  • Company employment of 102 children between the ages of 13 to 17, were working in hazardous occupations. At the Wisconsin location they worked with hazardous chemicals, cleaning meat processing equipment including hack saws, brisket saws and head splitters. At least three minors suffered injuries.
  • The children were working overnight shifts at 13 meat processing facilities in eight states.

Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. had to pay more than $1.5 million in civil penalties.

Urban Air Jacksonville LLC (Florida Trampoline Park)

Urban Air Jacksonville LLC is an indoor adventure park in Florida. The company violated child labor laws by permitting 55 minor employees (between the ages of 14 and 15) to work on school nights after 7:00 p.m. Based on a DOL investigation, the company also violated wage and hour laws by deducting break times from some employees’ weekly hours. The company was also in violation of overtime pay when these deductions would have made the employees’ work weeks extend over 40 hours.

The DOL assessed civil penalties totaling $43,505 for child labor violations. In addition, the company had to pay $558 to 12 employees for back wages.

As an employer, do you need legal assistance with child labor or wage and hour issues?

If you are a company owner and have questions or concerns about child labor or wage and hour matters, an experienced employment law defense attorney can help. Whenever possible, it is wise to do so before legal issues arise. Call (718) 275-6500 to arrange an appointment with Stephen D. Hans & Associates, P.C.