Teens working too long and late will cost Wichita-area fast-food franchisee nearly $42K
Letting young teens work too long and too late at some of its fast-food restaurants in the Wichita area will cost a Newton-based franchisee nearly $42,000.
The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday that an investigation by its Wage and Hour Division found BBR Investments LLC violated child labor laws when it allowed 14- and 15-year-olds at three Sonic Drive-In restaurants “to consistently work more than 3 hours on a school day, more than 18 hours in a school week, and more than 8 hours on a non-school day,” according to a news release.
The restaurants also let the children work after 7 p.m. during the school year and summertime shifts that lasted later than 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, in violation of the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
In all, 50 teens were affected. Of them, 34 worked at the Sonic Drive-In at 215 N. Main in Newton; six worked at 621 E. 4th St. in Hutchinson; and 10 worked at 10 E. Kansas Ave. in McPherson.
Civil penalties assessed for violations amounted to $24,956 at the Newton restaurant; $9,702 at the Hutchinson location; and $7,340 at the McPherson branch, the labor department said in the release. The total fine is $41,998.
BBR Investments LLC did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment that The Eagle left with a woman who answered its business line late Tuesday morning. The business describes itself on its website as “a young company managed by partners with over 70 years of combined experience specialized in Sonic Drive-Ins.” The site lists its owners as Rusty Billington, Rick Bernard and Max Rickerson.
BBR Investments owns 17 Sonic locations in the state, according to the department of labor release.
“Federal child labor laws allow for youth employment but specify when and how long these young people can work, and what hazardous occupations must be avoided so their safety and well-being are never compromised,” Wage and Hour Division District Director Reed Trone in Kansas City, Missouri, said in a prepared statement included in the release.
“BBR Investments could have avoided costly penalties by making sure they followed the law,” Trone said.
In addition to the restrictions on how long and late a business can let 14- and 15-year-olds work, the Federal Labor Standards Act also prohibits minors from operating motor vehicles, forklifts and using hazardous equipment.
For more information about the act and other labor laws, go to www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa or call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). The division also has a list of best practices for employers, young workers and parents published at www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/child-labor/seven-child-labor-best-practices-for-employers.
This story was originally published October 4, 2022 at 12:14 PM.
