Legal expert weighs in on Crumbl Cookies’ violation of child labor laws

SALT LAKE CITY — A federal investigation announced Tuesday that those who run Crumbl Cookies have violated child labor laws.

The Department of Labor fined the company more than $50,000 for allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to work more than they are legally allowed. The Department of Labor found violations at 11 stores, including four in Utah. 

KSL NewsRadio’s legal analyst Greg Skordas joined Jeff Caplan’s Afternoon News on Tuesday afternoon to explain what this means.

Skordas says individuals who are of the age of 14 and 15 are not allowed to work more than 40 hours a week. Additionally, Skordas also says those individuals are not allowed to work during school hours.

Caplan asked if this is common practice?

“It was certainly more than I realized,” Skordas said. “When I started looking at the United States and the state work regulations, we’re talking about people that are under 16 in some cases. Utah law even defines work conditions for people as young as 10 years old. So, it must be more common than most people realize.”

Could Crumbl Cookies dispute the fine?

Skordas says the Crumbl Cookies could appeal the fine. But he doesn’t think that will happen.

“I would think a company that big would probably not want to spend the time, and money and attorney fees to fight,” he said. “I mean if it was a five million dollar fine that’s one thing.”

He expects Crumbl Cookies to work out an arrangement with the Department of Labor to pay the fine.

Skordas also points out the company isn’t necessarily at fault here.

“It’s not necessary the company itself,” he said. “But it seems like it could have been some of their franchises. Some of the individuals that were working and running some of these Crumbl stores, maybe not the company itself.”

Skordas says the fine should serve as a wake-up call to all businesses.

“I think this is a wake-up call,” he said. “Even the slap on the wrist has got to be embarrassing to the company itself.”

 

Read more:

• Crumbl Cookies files lawsuit against two competitors over trademark rights

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