Fast food giant Wendy’s has agreed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to resolve allegations that it violated child labor laws at dozens of restaurants in Massachusetts.
According to the Associated Press, authorities have said that it began investigating the burger maker after a minor employed at a location in Worcester dropped a dime that teenagers were working too late and too many hours.
Wendy’s provided records to investigators who found the restaurant was violating two child labor laws by allowing 16- and 17-year old employees to work past 10 p.m. and more than nine hours per day.
Investigators estimated more than 2,100 violations took place at 46 corporate-owned Wendy’s across the entire state.
The company has agreed to pay $400,000 and has since changed its scheduling procedures.
The Sun Chronicle reported that as part of the settlement, $200,000 of it will be earmarked to a fund administered by the AG’s office aimed at benefiting young people through education programs about child labor and enforcement of the laws, as well as training and workforce development for young workers.
“Employers have a duty to follow our child labor laws and protect their young employees,” Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. “Wendy’s came into compliance as a result of our investigation and took meaningful steps to ensure a safe and productive work environment for its young workers.”
Healey’s office reportedly recently resolved several child labor investigations, including citing Mexican-styled chains Chipotle $2 million for child labor and wage violations and Qdoba $400,000 for more than 1,000 child labor law violations at its 22 corporate-owned locations in the state.
