Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SEATTLE -- The U.S. Labor Department announced that Anacortes Brewing Co., doing business as Rockfish Grill in Anacortes, Wash., has agreed to pay $7,920 in civil money penalties for violations of the youth employment provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found that the company illegally employed minors working on general food preparation work to operate meat slicers and a dough mixer. Operating meat slicers and dough mixers is prohibited work under federal law. One minor was injured while operating such equipment at the restaurant.

The department’s investigation covered the period from July 3, 2002, through July 3, 2004.

The FLSA details hours that minors under age 16 may work and specifies hazardous occupations prohibited for minors under age 18. The law allows 14- and 15-year-olds to work during the school year, but not later than 7:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. from June 1 until Labor Day) and for no more than three hours on school days or 18 hours during the school week. These minors may work up to eight hours on school days or 40 hours during non-school weeks.

Information about the federal youth employment laws may be found at www.youthrules.dol.gov, which was developed in conjunction with the department’s YouthRules! public awareness campaign to educate teens, parents, educators, employers and the public about federal and state laws regarding young workers.

For more information about the other provisions of the FLSA, call the Seattle Wage and Hour Office at 206-398-8039 or the department’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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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.