McDonald's Fined Over $212,000
By Andrea Cooper
7 May 2023
The years 2022 and 2023 have highlighted the distressing prevalence of low-wage worker exploitation in the United States. From the Starbucks unionization controversy to the exposure of ServSafe as a capitalist scam, the plight of food service employees has faced significant scrutiny. Even renowned establishments like Eleven Madison Park faced backlash for resisting wage increases. Adding to this disheartening trend, McDonald's is now under fire for child labor violations, casting a dark shadow on the fast-food giant.
It's alarming everywhere!
McDonald's Franchisees Caught Red-Handed
In a distressing revelation, three McDonald's franchisees, namely Bauer Food, Archways Richwood, and Bell Restaurant Group, have been found guilty of child labor law infractions. These franchisees collectively own 62 stores across Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, and Kentucky, where at least 305 underage workers were found to consistently exceed their permitted working hours and operate machinery prohibited for their age group.
Minimum Age Requirements and Violations
Starbucks has been on the radar for the same case. However, McDonald's sets varying minimum age requirements for company-owned and franchise-operated stores. However, the U.S. Department of Labor stipulates 14 as the minimum age for non-agricultural work. Alarming reports reveal that a Kentucky restaurant even employed two 10-year-old children without compensation, making them work until 2:00 a.m. on multiple occasions, with one of the children operating the deep fryer.
Breaching Safety Regulations
Underage workers are subject to strict work limitations established by the U.S. Department of Labor. Individuals under 18 are prohibited from working shifts longer than three hours on school nights and eight hours on weekends, within the time frame of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. for 15-year-olds). Furthermore, workers under 18 are not permitted to operate hazardous kitchen equipment such as meat slicers, commercial mixers, or bread ovens. The fact that over 300 minors were subjected to these violations raises significant concerns.
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