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According to an investigation by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20221205-0?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcdonalds-franchisee-violated-child-labor-laws-federal-investigation-finds-2720575" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Department of Labor</a>, a McDonald’s franchisee violated child labor laws by permitting more than 100 minors to work outside legal hour limits.&nbsp;Labor investigators determined that the franchise operator, Santonastasso Enterprises, was scheduling 14- and 15-year-old employees to work more than three hours per day and after 7 p.m. on school days. Other violations included allowing minors to work later than 9 p.m. on days between June 1 and Labor Day and more than eight hours on a non-school day."Permitting young workers to work excessive hours can jeopardize their safety, well-being and education," Labor Department official John DuMont&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20221205-0?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcdonalds-franchisee-violated-child-labor-laws-federal-investigation-finds-2720575" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">said in a statement</a>. "Employers who hire young workers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws or face costly consequences."<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxSJzzetZvY"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAxSJzzetZvY" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>The franchisee’s failures led to violations of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcdonalds-franchisee-violated-child-labor-laws-federal-investigation-finds-2720575" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fair Labor Standards Act</a>, resulting in a fine of $57,000. In response to the investigation, the franchise operators announce they have implemented new procedures to prevent scheduling problems."We take our role as a local employer very seriously, and we regret any scheduling issues that may have occurred at our restaurants," John and Kathleen Santonastasso&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mcdonalds-child-labor-violations-fast-food-teens-dol/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcdonalds-franchisee-violated-child-labor-laws-federal-investigation-finds-2720575" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">said in a statement</a>.The DOL investigation follows a series of reports of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/tastingtable-why-a-dairy-queen-franchisee-got-slapped-with-a-sizable-fine-2719896#stories">child labor violations</a> in the QSR segment and other industries. According to the labor department, investigators found child labor law violations in more than 4,000 cases between 2017 and 2021.Related articles:<ul><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/tastingtable-why-a-dairy-queen-franchisee-got-slapped-with-a-sizable-fine-2719896#stories">TastingTable: Why a Dairy Queen Franchisee Got Slapped With a Sizable Fine</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/franchises-to-face-increased-legal-pressure-under-proposed-nlrb-rule-2719677#stories">Franchises to Face Increased Legal Pressure Under Proposed NLRB Rule</a></li><li><a href="https://1851franchise.com/restaurant-groups-send-petition-with-over-one-million-signatures-opposing-fast-act-in-california-2720567#stories">Restaurant Groups Send Petition with Over One Million Signatures Opposing Fast Act in California</a></li></ul> &nbsp;

McDonald’s Franchisee Violated Child Labor Laws, Federal Investigation Finds

1851 Franchise

The Department of Labor uncovered child labor violations by the operators of 13 Pittsburgh area McDonald’s restaurants.

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McDonald’s Franchisee Violated Child Labor Laws, Federal Investigation Finds

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