From the Starbucks unionization story that required Senate involvement to SERV Safe's capitalist fraud, food service workers have had it rough lately.
Even Eleven Madison Park, one of the world's finest restaurants, was criticized this summer for refusing to raise salaries, claiming negative press.
Three McDonald's franchisees—Bauer Food, Archways Richwood, and Bell Restaurant Group—own 62 locations in Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, and Kentucky and violated child labor laws.
At least 305 juvenile workers habitually surpassed their allowed hours and used machinery forbidden to them.
McDonald's website states that company-owned and franchised shops have different minimum ages. However, the U.S. Department of Labor allows non-agricultural workers at 14.
A Kentucky eatery hired two 10-year-olds without pay and kept them working until 2:00 a.m. One youngster ran the deep fryer.
Underage employees are restricted under U.S. Department of Labor rules. Under-18s can only work three-hour shifts on school nights and eight-hour shifts on weekends between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Meat slicers, professional mixers, and bread ovens are prohibited for under-18s. How could this happen to over 300 minors?
We won't guess if inflation or other financial pressures caused the infractions. However, the night manager's children, two 10-year-old McDonald's employees from Kentucky, stopped by.
McDonald's violations cost the U.S. Department of Labor $212,544. The fast-food chain has been caught violating underage labor laws before.
Another 15-year-old Tennessee McDonald's employee was burnt in June 2022 while illegally working the deep-fryer. Louisville's pay and labor official says child labor violations are common.