Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

AUBURN, Neb. -- Glenn’s Corner Market Inc. in Auburn, Neb. has been cited for alleged youth employment violations and assessed $40,672 in civil monetary penalties, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division announced today. An investigation revealed that eight minors were working in violation of the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The grocer was cited for eight minors between ages 15 and 17 years routinely cleaning and sometimes operating a power-driven meat slicer, saw and grinder in violation of Hazardous Order Number 10. Additionally, two of the 15-year-olds regularly cleaned a machine prohibited by Regulation Number 3 occupational standards and worked hours and at times prohibited by Regulation Number 3. Finally, two of the minors were found to have regularly loaded a power-driven paper baler in violation of Hazardous Order Number 12.

“This enforcement action is part of the Labor Department’s continuing efforts to eliminate the use of youth employment in prohibited occupations,” said Percella Maupins, director of the Wage and Hour Division’s district office in Des Moines, Iowa.

Glenn’s Corner Market, claiming to have been completely unaware that federal youth employment restrictions applied to this establishment, has agreed to carefully monitor future compliance. The grocer also has filed for an exception to the civil monetary penalties and requested a hearing to resolve the matter.

The department’s youth employment regulations identify 17 hazardous occupations prohibited for workers under the age of 18. The basic minimum age for employment in non-agricultural occupations is 14. Fourteen and 15-year-olds may work in certain occupations outside school hours but not before 7 a.m. or later than 7 p.m. (9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day). They may not work more than three hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week or eight hours on a non-school day and 40 hours in a week when school is not in session. Different standards apply to agricultural employment.

The department’s YouthRules! Web site, www.youthrules.dol.gov, educates employers, young workers and parents about youth employment, jobs teens may perform and the hours they may work.

For more information about the FLSA, call the department’s toll-free help line at (866) 4US-WAGE (487-9243) or visit www.wagehour.dol.gov.

###

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.