Child labor violations cost a Florida Chick-fil-A $12,000 in civil penalties
A Chick-fil-A in Tampa has paid a $12,478 civil penalty after U.S. Department of Labor investigators found child labor violations involving how long minors worked during the school year.
Labor announced the fine Tuesday. The franchise at 2551 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. is owned by Carlos Brito’s Brito Enterprises, based in Tampa.
Wage and Hour Division investigators said they found that 17 workers at that Chick-fil-A, ages 14 and 15, to work more than three hours during a school day and after 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1. These violate the child labor parts of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
“Employers must familiarize themselves with the working conditions that come with hiring minor employees. While gaining meaningful work experience is a good thing, it should not interfere with a child’s educational opportunities,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nicolas Ratmiroff. “We encourage employers to access our Youthrules.gov website or contact the Wage and Hour Division to learn how to keep these young workers safe on the job.”
The Wage and Hour complaint section of Labor’s website contains information on how to file a complaint if you believe your employer has violated FLSA. Miami’s Wage and Hour Division office can be reached at 305-598-6607. The national helpline is 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).
No matter the immigration or citizenship status of workers, they can speak with the department, which says it can handle calls in more than 200 languages.