Investigation Reveals Over 300 Children, Including Two 10-Year-Olds, Working in Violation of Federal Labor Laws at McDonald’s Restaurants Across Four States

The U.S. Department of Labor has found that more than 300 children, including two 10-year-olds, were working at McDonald’s restaurants across Kentucky and several other states in violation of federal labor laws.

The division said the 10-year-olds, who worked at McDonald’s restaurants run by Bauer Food in Louisville, “sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.” and “prepared and distributed food orders, cleaned the store, worked at the drive-thru window and operated a register.” In one case, investigators found two 10-year-olds were working unpaid and until as late as 2 a.m. at one McDonald’s restaurant in Louisville operated by Bauer Food LLC, which is based in Louisville.

The Department of Labor also found that one of the two children was allowed to operate a deep fryer, a prohibited task for workers under 16 years old. Most of the restaurants, 45 of the 62, were in Kentucky, according to the department.

The Department of Labor has not released the names of the restaurants or the states in which they are located. However, they have said that the violations occurred at 62 locations across four states.

The Department of Labor is currently investigating the violations and has not yet announced any penalties. They have also not released any information on the children who were found to be working in violation of federal labor laws.