Utah company with ties to polygamous group cited for violating child labor laws

SALT LAKE CITY — Amid increased enforcement efforts in the region, the U.S. Department of Labor assessed nearly $17,000 in penalties to a Salt Lake City-based restaurant supply company connected to the polygamous Kingston sect that was in violation of child labor laws, the department announced Tuesday.

A federal investigation found Specialty Consulting Services LLC — operating as Standard Restaurant Supply — allowed 22 employees between the ages of 14 and 15 to work as many as 46 hours per workweek and to begin work after midnight, both of which are illegal practices under child labor laws, specifically the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The investigation also found that Standard Restaurant Supply “failed to keep accurate time records including the date of birth for one minor-aged employee,” another violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s recordkeeping provision.

In response to the investigation, the division assessed $16,595 in penalties “to resolve the child labor violations.”

A year ago, the division’s Southwest Region released a reminder to Salt Lake City-area employers reiterating the importance of complying with federal child labor laws and said that it would be “stepping up its efforts to identify child labor violations in the Salt Lake City area.”

“We urge employers in the region to gain a full understanding of child labor regulations and ensure they are abiding by the law, or they should be prepared to face costly consequences,” Kevin Hunt, Wage and Hour Division district director in Salt Lake City, said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the labor department announced that Utah soda and dessert shop Sodalicious violated federal child labor laws at its Midvale, Orem, Provo and South Jordan locations.

Please read Logan Stefanich’s entire story at KSL.com.