A Troy, Michigan, Popeyes franchise is under fire for violating child labor laws, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. The Popeyes location on Rochester Road improperly scheduled 63 teens, aged 14 and 15, to work hours beyond the legal limit. The fast-food joint was slapped with a $48,251 fine after the breach was discovered.
Investigators found the young employees to "have worked more than 18 hours while school was in session" and to "work past 7 p.m. before June 1 and also work past 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day," according to the findings reported by The Detroit News. These hours are out of bounds with the stipulations set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which aims to strictly limit working hours for this age group to protect their welfare and education.
The FLSA bars 14- and 15-year-olds from working later than 9 p.m. during the summer months and past 7 p.m. through the rest of the year. These young workers are also prohibited from working more than three hours on a school day and more than 18 hours in a school week. In this case, the teenagers were found to have been working later and for longer hours than these limits allow.
Timolin Mitchell, the Wage and Hour District Director in Detroit, emphasized the importance of these laws, stating, "Child labor laws were enacted nearly a century ago to protect children. Employers that hire teen labor must to ensure they follow the law while allowing teens to earn valuable work experience," as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. This incident is part of a larger problem that last year included another fast-food chain, Culver's in Wixom, which was fined for similar infractions.
The issue of child labor stretches beyond the local impact in Michigan, as highlighted in a report titled "Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.," published by the New York Times last year. The article, which uncovered widespread child labor exploitation involving migrant children, prompted calls for action from U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten and U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee. The report by the Detroit Free Press shared tales of children in dire working conditions, including a 15-year-old employed in a factory where severe injuries had occurred.
In response to the growing concern over child labor violations, the Department of Labor created an Interagency Task Force in February 2023. A year-long effort led to the identification of 955 child labor violation cases, leading to over $8 million in fines levied against employers. The task force encourages individuals aware of wage violations or exploitation to report such cases online or via their toll-free helpline. This incident in Michigan is another stark reminder of the work still required in order to safeguard America's youth.
