Federal investigations find Jersey Mike’s franchise operator violated child labor regulations at 4 northern Virginia locations, denied overtime pay
Federal investigations find Jersey Mike's franchise operator violated child labor regulations at 4 northern Virginia ... US Department of Labor
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BALTIMORE – U.S. Department of Labor Investigations at Four Northern Virginia Jersey Mike’s Franchise Locations
The U.S. Department of Labor has conducted investigations at four northern Virginia Jersey Mike’s franchise locations and found multiple violations of federal child labor regulations. These violations include allowing minors to perform dangerous tasks and work longer hours than permitted. The department’s Wage and Hour Division has determined that the operator, JM Burke LLC, violated the Fair Labor Standards Act at locations in Ashburn, South Riding, Springfield, and Sterling.
Violations of Child Labor Regulations
- JM Burke LLC allowed 14 minor-aged children to operate power-driven meat slicers, which is considered a hazardous occupation under federal law.
- JM Burke employed minors to work more than the permitted hours, including more than 8 hours on a non-school day, more than 18 hours during a school week, more than 3 hours on a school day after 7 p.m. between the day after Labor Day and May 31, or after 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day.
To resolve these child labor infractions, JM Burke paid $108,161 in civil money penalties.
Overtime Violations
Investigators also identified overtime violations at the Ashburn location. The employer failed to include bonuses in three employees’ regular rates of pay when calculating overtime wages owed. Additionally, the employer did not maintain accurate records of workers’ regular pay rates. As a result, JM Burke paid $856 in overtime back wages to the affected workers.
Commitment to Compliance and Future Actions
JM Burke LLC has agreed to future enhanced compliance measures, including:
- Staff training
- Increased corporate site visits
- The creation of a website for reporting violations
- Investments in technology to monitor internal store cameras to ensure children are not working in hazardous occupations
“Our commitment to protecting young workers does not end after investigators leave an employer’s premises,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nicholas Fiorello. The division’s Baltimore District Office is offering a free webinar on April 3, 2024, to educate employers, parents, educators, and workers about the FLSA’s child labor protections. The office will also provide participants with useful links to child labor compliance assistance materials. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
YouthRules! Initiative and Child Labor Best Practices
The Department of Labor’s YouthRules! initiative promotes positive and safe work experiences for teens by providing information about protections for young workers to youth, parents, employers, and educators. The Wage and Hour Division has published Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers to help them comply with the law. Employers can learn more about the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions on the department’s website.
Contact Information and Resources
For more information about young workers’ rights and other employee rights enforced by the division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). You can also learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to check if you may be owed back wages collected by the division. The division protects workers regardless of their origin and can communicate with workers in more than 200 languages. Download the agency’s Timesheet App for Android and iOS devices, available in English and Spanish, to ensure accurate hours and pay.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in the Article
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 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.
- SDG 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, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.
- SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for SDG 4.4: Number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment.
- Indicator for SDG 8.7: Number of child labor violations reported and resolved.
- Indicator for SDG 16.2: Number of cases of child labor violations and exploitation.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Indicator: Number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment. |
| 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, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms. | Indicator: Number of child labor violations reported and resolved. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Indicator: Number of cases of child labor violations and exploitation. |
The article highlights violations of federal child labor regulations at Jersey Mike’s franchise locations. These violations are connected to SDG 4 (Quality Education) as they involve minors working longer hours than permitted, potentially affecting their education. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) is also relevant as it aims to end child labor in all its forms. Additionally, SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) is connected as it targets the end of abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of children.
Based on the article’s content, specific targets can be identified. SDG 4.4 aims to increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment, which is relevant to the issue of minors working in violation of child labor regulations. SDG 8.7 targets the eradication of child labor, including the worst forms, by 2025. SDG 16.2 aims to end abuse and exploitation of children, which includes child labor violations.
The article mentions child labor violations and the resolution of these violations, which can serve as indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets. The number of child labor violations reported and resolved can be used as an indicator for SDG 8.7. Additionally, the article implies the existence of cases of child labor violations and exploitation, which can be used as an indicator for SDG 16.2.
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Source: dol.gov
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