FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — A Little Caesars pizza franchise in Michigan has incurred fines for infringing upon child labor laws, officials reported. The U.S. Department of Labor discovered that JMP Pizza Inc., the company that operates the franchise, had employed minors under conditions that violated federal regulations.
Investigators revealed that the violations included allowing minors to handle potentially hazardous equipment such as dough mixers and ovens. Notably, the ovens used in the pizza-making process reached temperatures between 500 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit, posing significant risks to young workers. Federal guidelines strictly prohibit workers aged 14 and 15 from engaging in baking activities and restrict their cooking tasks considerably.
Moreover, it was found that three 15-year-old employees were scheduled to work past 7 p.m. on school nights, failing to comply with labor laws that dictate their work hours. These regulations state that 14- and 15-year-old employees should not work past 7 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until May 31, and no later than 9 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day.
Additional restrictions for young workers include caps on working hours: no more than eight hours on non-school days and 40 hours in a week when school is not in session. During the school term, they are limited to three hours on a school day—Fridays included—and a maximum of 18 hours per week.
To address these infractions, JMP Pizza has paid $26,341 in civil penalties as assessed by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor. Timolin Mitchell, the Division’s District Director in Detroit, emphasized the importance of youth employment being both safe and conducive to educational commitments. He stressed that while job experiences are beneficial for personal growth during adolescence, it is crucial that these opportunities do not compromise the safety or education of minors.
Mitchell also highlighted the dual objective of the Fair Labor Standards Act: to facilitate safe employment opportunities for youth while imposing restrictions on the types of jobs young workers can undertake and the hours they can work, backing these regulations with penalties for non-compliance.
These incidents bring to light the ongoing challenge of balancing work and education for minors, ensuring that their foray into employment does not hinder their well-being and academic progress. Meanwhile, businesses are reminded of their responsibilities under the law to provide a safe working environment for all employees, especially the most vulnerable.
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