A Nampa-based ice cream manufacturer and retailer, Stella's Ice Cream, is facing $321,015 in civil penalties following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor. The department's Wage and Hour Division found that four retail locations in Idaho employed minors for tasks deemed dangerous and allowed them to work beyond legal hours.
The investigation revealed that children at Stella's Ice Cream locations in Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, and Nampa were operating industrial mixers, driving a delivery van, and working during restricted hours. It was determined that workers aged 14 to 15 were regularly scheduled past 10:30 p.m., contravening federal regulations.
"Learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up," stated Katherine Walum, District Director of the Wage and Hour Division in Portland, Oregon. "But we must protect children and ensure their first jobs are safe and do not interfere with their education or well-being."
Federal rules prohibit employing 14- and 15-year-olds beyond 7 p.m., except between June 1 and Labor Day when they can work until 9 p.m. Additionally, these young workers are restricted to no more than 18 hours weekly during school sessions.
The division also discovered that tips earned by tipped workers were improperly shared with managers and supervisors at the company. This violation led to $79,463 being recovered in back wages and liquidated damages for 208 affected employees.
In fiscal year 2024 alone, over 4,000 children were found employed unlawfully across the nation resulting in more than $15 million assessed in child labor-related penalties—a significant increase from previous years.
The department’s YouthRules! initiative aims to promote safe work experiences for teens by educating youth, parents, employers, and educators about young worker protections. It also provides resources like Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers to assist compliance with labor laws.
For further information on young workers' rights or other employee rights enforced by the division, individuals can contact their toll-free helpline or explore tools available on their website to check if back wages are owed.
