Utah company fined for violating child labor laws
Aug 29, 2023, 9:30 PM
(Screenshot from Google Maps)
(Screenshot from Google Maps)
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Utah business Rush Funplex, claiming the company violated child labor laws.
Rush Funplex has businesses in Syracuse and West Jordan. The department says the company hired 14- and 15-year-olds to work hours that were too late and too long during the school year. The investigation also found that some of the teenagers were working with prohibited equipment such as go-karts, pizza ovens and fryers.
Additionally, the department says the company also allegedly missed payroll for seven employees and underpaid several employees at the Syracuse location.
Eric Olsen, with the Utah Labor Commision, discussed the situation with KSL NewsRadio.
“But a minor under the age of 16, they can’t work during school hours,” Olsen said. “That seems like a ‘duh’ type of thing. But it’s one of the laws on the books.”
Olsen also says that a minor under the age of 16 can’t work more than four hours either before or after school.
Essentially, Olsen says those under 16 years of age can’t work before 5 a.m. and not after 9:30 p.m. unless there is no school the next day. He also says those individuals shouldn’t be working more than eight hours in a 24-hour period.
Child labor laws
Are there certain restrictions or industries in which kids cannot work?
“There are a lot of different prescriptions for kids depending on their age,” Olsen said.
He says kids can shovel and rake things in performing yard work. Olsen also says teenagers can serve as a caddie on a golf course. He also refers back to the day when 10-year-olds went house to house delivering newspapers.
Olsen also says teenagers over 14 can work in the retail food industry. They can also work in an automobile service station, with restrictions on operating vehicles. Other options include janitorial and custodial jobs.
Adam Small contributed to this report.
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