The U.S. Department of Labor discovered two Zaxby's locations in Georgia violated child labor and overtime laws, putting their young workers in danger, a March 9 news release said.
Encore Foods Inc. was found guilty and now face more than $15,000 in civil penalties. The workers in question were reportedly 15 years old and were operating deep fryers without automatic controls, which is an occupation violation for anyone under the age of 16.
“Employers with minor-aged workers must follow strict laws intended to allow kids to gain valuable experience at work without risking their safety or interfering with their education," said Steve Salazar, Wage and Hour District director in Atlanta. “Endangering any worker is inexcusable, but minor-aged employees can be more vulnerable because of their inexperience. Employers, parents, workers and teachers must all be familiar with federal child labor laws to ensure the well-being of young workers.”
In addition to the safety violations, the employer also permitted the 15-year-olds to work longer than what is allowed by law during the school year. Specifically, the actions were in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
These findings were the result of an investigation carried out by the federal government.
