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According to federal officials, young workers at five Wendy’s restaurants in Pennsylvania were illegally endangered and planned to work long hours.
As a result of a recent US Department of Labor investigation, the franchisee was fined $ 15,449 as a civil fine.
Wage and Time Division investigators found a 15-year-old employee Use deep fryer This required manually raising and lowering the frying basket to make it hot oil.
According to a news release on June 14, labor law allows workers aged 14 and 15 to operate deep fryer only if the basket automatically moves up and down.
Franchisee Philadelphia LIV Bacon LLC and three other companies also said, according to investigators. Violation of child labor law Allows 14 and 15 year olds to work at least 3 hours on school days and at least 8 hours on non-school days. Teens were also allowed to work more than 18 hours each week.
Authorities said Philly LIV Bacon LLC also did not maintain accurate records. These violations occurred at restaurants in Allentown, Easton, Pottstown and Whitehall.
Wendy’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClutch News on June 14.
Wendy’s employers have paid fines and are now working with wages and hours to begin a company-wide review of workplace practices at all 83 Wendy locations in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, officials said. It is. “
Philly LIV Bacon LLC and the other three companies all agreed:
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Train bosses on child labor requirements
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Providing child labor documents to current and new minors engaged in business
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Establish a way for workers to anonymously report child labor violations
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Providing different colored name tags for workers under the age of 16
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Post child labor law information in a clearly visible location
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Mark equipment that should not be used by 14 and 15 year old workers
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Put a “stop” sticker on equipment that is dangerous for minors to use
“Employing young workers provides a valuable work experience, which should never be brought at the expense of their safety and education,” said Alfonso Gristina, district director of the Wages and Times Division. Said in the release. “The actions taken by PhillyLIV Bacon LLC help ensure that the minors they employ are not endangered and benefit from real-world work experience.”
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