The owner of Auntie Anne’s pretzel stores in several Southern California locations has been fined $51,500 for allowing minors to operate dough mixers and trash compactors and work longer hours than allowed, the government said Monday.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division said the franchisee violated the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act over a two-year period ending in March 2006.
An investigation showed that Pretzel King LLC, doing business as an Auntie Anne’s franchisee in San Bernardino, Downey, Arcadia, Glendale, Northridge and Bakersfield, allowed 11 youths ages 14 and 15 to work more hours than the law allowed.
The company also allowed nine youths to bake, which is prohibited for 14- and 15-year-olds.
The investigation also found that the stores allowed 60 minors to operate freight elevators, trash compactors and dough mixers, which are prohibited for employees under 18.
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