Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

Two 10-year-olds found working unpaid shifts until 2am at US McDonald's restaurant

Two 10-year-olds found working unpaid shifts until 2am at US McDonald's restaurant

An investigation found the youngsters worked the cash register and drive-thru, and sometimes cleaned the floors, with one child even allowed to operate the deep fat fryer.
Two 10-year-old children have been working unpaid shifts in a McDonald's restaurant in Kentucky until 2am, an investigation has found.

The US Department of Labour (DoL) said the children, who have not been named for legal reasons, prepared and served meals at a Louisville outfit of the fast food chain.

The DoL added that Bauer Food, LLC, a Louisville-based operator of 10 McDonald's franchise locations across two states, employed the youngsters.

Both children were discovered to have worked the cash register and drive-thru, and sometimes cleaned the floors, with one child even allowed to operate the deep fat fryer.

They were also not paid for their shifts, which would sometimes go on until 2am, the investigation found.

The children also had access to "dangerous equipment", banned for employees under the age of 16.

Bauer Food franchise owner Sean Bauer told CBS News that the children were visiting their parent, who works at the restaurant as a night manager.

He said the children were not approved to be in that part of the premises by franchisee organisation management, adding that any work the children did was at the direction of their parent.

Mr Bauer also said that the company has worked to make sure the policy regarding children visiting parents and guardians at work is clear to all employees.

Furthermore, three franchisees that own more than 60 McDonald's locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio, were found to have "employed 305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers," the DoL said in a statement.

"Investigators from the department's Wage and Hour Division found two 10-year-old workers at a Louisville McDonald's restaurant among many violations of federal labor laws committed by three Kentucky McDonald's franchise operators," the DoL said in a news release.

"Investigators also determined two 10-year-old children were employed - but not paid - and sometimes worked as late as 2am."

It added that the three franchisees face a combined $212,754 (£169,788) in civil money penalties over the child labour violations.

Karen Garnett-Civils, the agency's wage and hour division district director, said: "Too often, employers fail to follow the child labour laws that protect young workers.

"Under no circumstances should there ever be a 10-year-old child working in a fast-food kitchen around hot grills, ovens and deep fryers."
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
×