Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- GM Investments Inc., operator of six Sonic Drive-in restaurants in the Charleston, S.C., area, has paid $6,000 in civil money penalties after the U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that the company allowed minors to work in violation of the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“Holding a job gives young workers valuable experience, but employers must ensure that they comply with labor laws by maintaining accurate employment records, not having young employees work late at night, and ensuring that these workers are not involved in hazardous duties,” said Scott Gear, the Wage and Hour Division’s district director in Columbia.

Wage and Hour Division investigators found that GM Investments allowed employees under 16 years of age to work past 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1 and past 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day. The investigators determined that two minors had operated deep fat fryers without automatic lowering devices, which is a prohibited activity for workers under 16 years of age, and that the employer failed to properly record employees’ dates of birth.

The company also violated overtime provisions by paying one worker straight time for hours worked in excess of 40 in a week, resulting in the company owing the worker $286 in back wages.

The FLSA requires covered employees to be paid time and one-half their regular rates of pay for hours worked over 40 per week and prohibits workers under 18 years of age from engaging in hazardous activities. Minors who are 14 or 15 may not work more than three hours on school days, eight hours on nonschool days or 40 hours during nonschool weeks. Regulations detail that 14- and 15-year-olds may work during non-school hours, but no later than 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 until Labor Day). In addition, employers must maintain accurate time and payroll records for all employees.

For more information about federal youth employment laws visit the YouthRules! Web site atwww.youthrules.dol.gov. For information about the FLSA and other laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division, visitwww.wagehour.dol.gov; ; call the department’s toll-free help line at (866) 4US-WAGE (487-9243); or contact the Columbia, S.C., office at 1835 Assembly St., Room 1072; phone: (803) 765-5981.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.