The owner of a Chick-fil-A in North Carolina was fined more than $6,000 and required to pay back wages to a handful of employees after the Department of Labor found multiple labor rules had been violated. child labor and minimum wage.
A report released by the DOL on Monday said the Chick-fil-A location in Hendersonville, NC, owned by Good Name 22:1 LLC, allowed three workers under the age of 18 to operate, load or unload a trash compactor, which resulted in $6,450 in fines.
Federal regulations surrounding child labor prohibit employed minors from performing hazardous work.
Tasks considered dangerous include driving a motor vehicle, packing or processing meat, operating motor-driven machines, and roofing work.
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An image of a Chick-fil-a sign with an American flag in the background.
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The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division also issued citations after finding that the restaurant paid certain employees, who directed traffic in the drive-through area and parking lot, with meal stamps instead of actual wages.
As a result of the violation, the location was required to pay $235 in back wages to seven employees.
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A Chick-fil-A in Hendersonville, North Carolina, was fined after it was discovered that a handful of workers were being paid with food stamps instead of wages.
A statement from Richard Blaylock, district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Raleigh, NC, said protecting younger workers is a top priority for his division.
“Child labor laws ensure that when youth work, the work does not endanger their health, well-being, or educational opportunities. Additionally, employers are responsible for paying workers for all hours worked and payment must be made in cash or legal tender,” he continued.
A Chick-fil-A in Tampa, Florida, received similar fines after the owner allowed 17 workers, ages 14 and 15, to work past 7 p.m. and more than 3 hours a day on school days, according to the DOL.
An image of the US Department of Labor sign.
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Employers unsure of wage and hour laws can contact the division at 1-866-4-US-WAGE. Employees can confidentially call the same number to report any violations. The department can communicate in more than 200 languages.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment but has not yet heard back.
