Culver's franchise in Wixom fined $13K by feds for overworking 14- and 15-year-olds
It's wasn't the horrors of child labor that Charles Dickens wrote about in 19th-century Britain, but the federal labor department said Friday that it found teens in a Culver’s franchise in Wixom who were working more hours than what the law allows.
As a result, the eatery must pay $13,212 in fines.
"Permitting young workers to work excessive hours can jeopardize their safety, well-being and education," said Timolin Mitchell, the wage and hour division district director in Detroit. “Employers like Culver’s who hire young workers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws or face costly consequences."
The Free Press left a message with Culver's seeking comment.
Culver's, a burger and frozen custard joint, started in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984, and opened its first franchise in 1990. There are now more than 740 eateries in 26 states.
The labor department said it investigated Union Pacific Foods and concluded it was in violation of the the Fair Labor Standards Act, by scheduling workers ages 14 and 15 more than three hours on a school day, more than 18 hours during a school week, and more than eight hours on a nonschool day, later than 7 p.m. during the school year and later than 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day.
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Last year, the labor department said it collected about $2.2 million in wages and damages for close to 3,000 workers in eastern Michigan and is urging anyone who believes they may be owed back wages to check on the agencies timesheet app for Android devices or call its free hotline at 866-487-9243.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Culver's eatery in Wixom fined for overscheduling young teens
