Baskin Robbins locations in Utah fined for breaking child labor laws
Mar 21, 2024, 9:00 PM | Updated: Mar 22, 2024, 9:25 am
Baskin Robbins is seen in Salt Lake City on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Several Utah Baskin Robbins franchises have been fined by the United States Department of Labor for violating child labor laws at eight different locations. (Marielle Scott, Deseret News)
(Marielle Scott, Deseret News)
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to accurately spell Ivan Palaez’s name.
SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Department of Labor is fining eight Baskin Robbins locations across the Wasatch Front for overworking their teenage employees.
Ivan Palaez with the Department of Labor’s Salt Lake City office said Baskin Robbins isn’t following the labor regulations for 14- and 15-year-old employees.
The fine equates to almost $50,000.
“It’s not that they can’t work,” Palaez said. “It’s just while school is in session and because of their age … we want them to go ahead and work. But we also want to make sure they work within the required parameters.”
Sixty-four employees were found to have worked longer than the regulation allows. Specifically, young teenagers can only work for a maximum of three hours after school. These regulations also require that they finish working by 7 p.m. These labor regulations only apply during the school year. In the summer, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to 40 hours a week, until 9 p.m.
This isn’t new for Utah
Last month, Cold Stone Creamery locations in Utah were fined for the same thing. The Department fined Crumbl Cookies and The Rush Funplex before that.
Pelaez said they see more child labor law violations in Utah, “because there are a lot more minors that [they] find working here in comparison to other places.”
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, the Baskin Robbins locations being investigated are in American Fork, Bountiful, Clearfield, Layton, Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan, and West Valley.
“Where a disparity exists between federal and state laws, employers must adhere to the most stringent standards,” said Salt Lake City Wage and Hour District Director Kevin Hunt in a press release.
“We encourage employers and employees to contact our office directly to get accurate information pertaining to federal labor laws and avoid an unfortunate situation like this one.”
