Michigan Popeyes Restaurant Violated Child Labor Laws: Feds

TROY, MI — A Troy Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was hit with a $48,000 fine for violating child labor laws, according to U.S. Department of Labor officials.

Investigators found the owner of the franchise at 4897 Rochester Road scheduled 63 teens, ages 14 and 15, to work past the hours allowed by Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor standards, according to federal officials.

The department's Wage and Hour Division fined Michigan Multi-King Inc., a local restaurant chain responsible for the Troy Popeyes, $48,251 for the violations, according to federal officials.

The teens worked more than 18 hours while school was in session, worked past 7 p.m. before June 1 and past 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day, according to federal officials.

The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits 14-and 15-year-olds from working later than 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, and past 7 p.m. the remainder of the year.

Additionally, they cannot work more than 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day or more than 18 hours per week. The law also prohibits minors from operating motor vehicles, forklifts and using other hazardous equipment.

"Far too often, we find teens working hours that are not allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Act," Wage and Hour District Director Timolin Mitchell said in the release. "Employers that hire teen labor must ensure they follow the law while allowing teens to earn valuable work experience."