A window cleaning company in Grand Rapids has been ordered to pay $29,210 in civil penalties for employing minors in hazardous tasks. The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of the Administrative Law Judge approved the penalty on October 30, 2024, following an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division into Absolutely Clean Services Inc.

The investigation revealed that three children were employed by the company to perform dangerous tasks such as cleaning residential windows and gutters and installing Christmas lights. One child suffered serious injuries requiring surgery after falling from a roof. Additionally, two of the children were allowed to operate a motor vehicle weighing over 6,000 pounds, and the company failed to maintain accurate employee records, including birth dates.

“A child was injured while working a dangerous job for which they never should have been hired. There is no excuse for violating the law and putting children at risk,” stated Mary O’Rourke, Wage and Hour Division District Director in Grand Rapids.

The consent findings also require Absolutely Clean Services to train supervisors on prohibited tasks for minors and post fact sheets about Hazardous Occupations Orders related to driving vehicles and working on roofs.

Regional Solicitor Christine Z. Heri emphasized, “Employers have no business employing minors to work on roofs or drive cars on public roads.”

Earlier this year, Absolutely Clean Services paid $36,532 in back wages and damages after violations of overtime rules were discovered during another investigation. The company miscalculated total overtime hours worked per week.

For more information about young workers' protections or if you believe you are owed back wages collected by the division, contact their toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). The agency offers assistance in more than 200 languages.

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