Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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ESA-WHD New Release: [02/21/2001]
Contact Name: Brad Mitchell
Phone Number: Juan Solano (312) 353-6976
Release Number: V-2001-340

The Honeybaked Ham Company of Ohio Pays $40,500 for Federal Child Labor Violations

WASHINGTON — The Honeybaked Ham Company of Ohio, which operates a chain of stores in 10 states, has paid a $40,500 fine by the U.S. Department of Labor for violating federal child labor laws.

An investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division showed that The Honeybaked Ham Company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, employed 180 minors in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The minors, ages 14 and 15, worked more hours or later in the evening than permitted by regulations that protect young workers. The violations occurred during January 1998 through January 2000.

"Young teens should gain valuable work experience. However, vulnerable children should not work during hours that subject them to danger or interfere with their education," said Wage and Hour District Director Richard Malloy in Columbus, Ohio.

The Labor Department found violations of hours and time standards at 29 stores in Kansas, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Maryland and Ohio.

The department's Safe Work/Safe Kids initiative attempts to ensure that teens have safe and positive work experiences that do not compete with their education. The initiative, now in its second year, embraces a strategy of enhanced enforcement, increased education, strong partnerships, and heightened public awareness to increase compliance with federal child labor laws.

The Wage and Hour Division enforces federal child labor laws. The regulations detail hours that minors under 16 may work and specify hazardous occupations prohibited for minors under the age of 18.

The Fair Labor Standards Act allows 14 and 15-year-olds to work outside school hours, but not later than 7:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. from June 1 until Labor Day). They may work no more than three hours on school days, and no more than 18 hours in a school week. These minors may work up to eight hours on non-school days, or 40 hours during non-school weeks.

For more information about Safe Work/Safe Kids, the child labor provisions, or any other provision of the FLSA, contact the nearest Wage and Hour Division office listed in your telephone directory or log onto www.dol.gov/esa.

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