8 Sonic Drive-Ins in South Carolina violated child labor laws, Labor Department says
8 Sonic Drive-Ins in South Carolina violated child labor laws, Labor Department says WBTW
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Violation of Child Labor Laws at Sonic Drive-Ins in the Upstate
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) — Eight Sonic Drive-Ins in the Upstate violated child labor laws by allowing workers younger than 16 to work longer and later than what’s legally allowed.
Violation Details
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Atticus Franchise Group LLC, which operates 60 Sonic Drive-In locations, including eight in South Carolina — employed 36 children, ages 14 and 15, to work illegally between March 2021 and October 2022 as follows:
- After 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1.
- Past 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day.
- More than 3 hours on a school day and more than 8 hours on a non-school day.
- More than 18 hours during a school week.
“Businesses that employ 14- and 15-year-olds must balance workplace experience with educational opportunities and be aware of the limits on these young workers’ job duties and hours,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Jamie Benefiel in Columbia, South Carolina. “Child labor regulations ensure young workers can gain valuable work experience without interfering with their education or endangering their safety.”
Penalties for Violation
An investigation by the Department of Labor unveiled eight Upstate Sonic Drive-Ins will face penalties, including:
- Clinton: 925 S. Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29615
- Gaffney: 1529 W. Floyd Baker Blvd, Gaffney, SC 29341
- Greenville: 954 N. Pleasantburg, Greenville, SC 29615
- Greenwood: 1427 Bypass 72 NE, Greenwood, SC 29649
- Greer: 119 S. Buncombe Road, Greer, SC 29650
- Laurens: 926 E. Main Street, Laurens, SC 29360
- Simpsonville: 12 Berry Blue Court, Simpsonville, SC 29680
- Woodruff: 1534 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607
Legal Consequences
“The real focus is in the 14- and 15-year-olds. That’s where there’s very limited hours where they can work outside of the school hours and it’s limited to 18 hours per week during the school year,” said attorney John Reckenbeil.
Upstate attorney John Reckenbeil has seen and represented people in similar cases.
“I’ve seen that happen before where they get called back into court and the judge has every reason to sanction that individual or the business owner,” he said.
If the fines are not paid, Reckenbeil said restaurant and business owners could get summoned to court and possibly face jail time.
“Each incident ends up in a fine,” said Reckenbeil. “So if you have done massive violations you will then be subjected to court punishment if you do it again or you don’t pay the fines.”
Penalties for Atticus Franchise Group
The Department of Labor said Atticus Franchise Group is facing a $25,000 civil money penalty to address the violations found in the Upstate locations.
Other Companies Facing Penalties
Atticus Franchise Group is not the only company that is facing recent penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The department found 3497 Beaufort Limited Partnership and its corporate parent company, Boom Inc. operates Sonic Drive-In locations in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia — employed 55 children, ages 14 and 15, to work outside of legally allowed hours.
The department assessed 3497 Beaufort and Boom Inc. with a $36,012 civil money penalty to resolve its violations at five Sonic locations in Chapin, Columbia, Newberry and Sumter.
According to the Department of Labor, investigators said nearly 4,000 children nationwide were involved in child labor violations. Data showed it increased more than 60% from 2018.
Overall Penalties for Violations
Employers were fined over $4 million in civil money penalties to address the violations.
Filing a Complaint
To file a complaint, the Department of Labor said to call 866-4US-WAGE (866-487-9243).
Child Labor Requirements
When applying for a job, keep in mind there are different restrictions per age group for your child.
For additional information on child labor requirements, visit:
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 4: Quality Education
The article discusses child labor violations, which are connected to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. It also mentions the importance of balancing workplace experience with educational opportunities, which relates to SDG 4, which focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
- Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
The article highlights violations of child labor laws, which directly relate to Target 8.7 of SDG 8. This target aims to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminate the worst forms of child labor. Additionally, the mention of balancing workplace experience with educational opportunities connects to Target 4.4 of SDG 4, which focuses on increasing the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment and decent jobs.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
- Number of child labor violations found
- Number of children employed illegally
- Number of hours worked by children outside of legally allowed hours
- Amount of civil money penalties imposed on companies
- Percentage increase in child labor violations from previous years
These indicators provide measurable data to assess progress in eradicating child labor and ensuring the provision of quality education and decent work opportunities.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. |
|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. |
|
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Source: wbtw.com
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