Charleys Philly Steaks allowed teen to use deep fryer: Feds
Teenage employees also had to continue working after clocking in, officials said.
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A 14-year-old worker at a Charleys Philly Steaks in Texas was regularly allowed to use a manual fryer, according to federal authorities.
It was one of several violations the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found while investigating the San Angelo restaurant chain, according to a July 6 news release.
The child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act state that 14- and 15-year-old employees can only use fryers that “automatically lower and raise baskets in and out of oil or grease “.
Officials say the location failed to pay the required overtime to three workers, and the teenage employees were asked to “clock in after regular closing time” but then had to stay to continue working.
According to the press release, five miners also had to work too many hours and overtime allowed by child labor standards.
Maw’s CPS SA LLC, the company that operates this site in Texas, could not be reached for comment. Charleys Philly Steaks did not immediately respond to a request for a statement on July 6.
The Department of Labor recovered $3,184 in back overtime wages, $3,184 in damages and $3,786 in penalties from the location, according to the news release. That’s a total of $10,154.
“This young workforce provides much needed services to all of us. Federal child labor laws were enacted to ensure that when young people are working, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities,” said the District Director of Wages and hours, Nicole Sellers, in a press release.
“Violating a worker’s right to be paid what they earn and putting minors at risk is not only illegal, it leaves a negative labor impression on our young people in our community,” he said. she continued. “This is particularly critical at a time when employers are struggling to find much-needed labour.”
Charleys Philly Steaks works with franchisees to operate more than 650 restaurants in 46 U.S. states and 17 countries, according to its website.
San Angelo is about 205 miles northwest of Austin.