US-based Village Pizza and Grill has been ordered to pay $115,841 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages, along with $8,317 in civil penalties to 14 employees.
The US District Court for the District of Massachusetts passed the judgement following an investigation by the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
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WHD found that the company has violated the child labour, overtime, minimum wage, and recordkeeping requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
According to the investigation, the pizza chain allowed employees aged less than 18 years to operate a dough mixer and a meat slicer, which is a violation of the FLSA’s child labour restrictions, as well as allowed a 15-year-old employee to work more hours beyond FLSA’s limit.
WHD Boston district director Carlos Matos said: “Employers must provide young workers with appropriate and safe employment and pay their employees the full wages that they have earned.
“We encourage all employers to contact us with any questions they may have, and to use the wide variety of tools we offer to help them understand their obligations and to comply with the law.”
In addition, the restaurant has not paid delivery drivers for hours they worked ‘off-the-clock’ cleaning the restaurant or shopping for it.
