Department of Labor finds child labor violations by operators of 5 McDonald’s locations in Western Pennsylvania; assesses $26K in penalties
Department of Labor finds child labor violations by operators of 5 ... US Department of Labor
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PITTSBURGH – Investigation Finds Child Labor Violations in McDonald’s Franchise Locations
An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor has revealed that the operator of five McDonald’s franchise locations in the greater Pittsburgh area employed 34 children in violation of child labor laws. The department’s Wage and Hour Division discovered that Endor Inc., based in Cranberry Township, had employed 14- and 15-year-old children outside of the permissible working hours.
Child Labor Violations
- Working before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1.
- Working during school hours.
- Working later than 9 p.m. on days between June 1 and Labor Day.
- Working more than 3 hours on a school day and more than 18 hours during a regular school week.
- Working more than 8 hours on a non-school day.
Endor Inc., owned by Paul and Meghan Sweeney, has paid $26,894 in civil money penalties to resolve its Fair Labor Standards Act violations.
“Fast food restaurants offer young workers an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, but federal law ensures that their experiences do not come at the expense of their education or well-being,” explained Wage and Hour Division District Director John DuMont in Pittsburgh. “The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for developmental experiences but restricts the work hours of 14- and 15-year-olds and provides for penalties when employers do not follow the law.”
Locations and Workers Affected
| Location | City | # of Employees |
| 249 Allegheny Road | Brookville | 4 |
| 136 Perkins Road | Clarion | 9 |
| 707 Main St. | Clarion | 2 |
| 102 N. Findley St. | Punxsutawney | 9 |
| 825 South St. | St. Mary’s | 10 |
The YouthRules! initiative promotes positive and safe work experiences for teens by providing information about protections for young workers to youth, parents, employers, and educators. Through this initiative, the U.S. Department of Labor and its partners aim to prepare young workers to enter the workforce. The Wage and Hour Division has also published Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers to assist employers in complying with the law.
Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you believe you may be owed back wages collected by the division. Employers and workers can call the division confidentially with questions, regardless of their location. The department can provide assistance in more than 200 languages through the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).
Download the agency’s new Timesheet App, available for free in English and Spanish for Android and Apple devices, to ensure accurate tracking of hours and pay.
Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.
