Pizza Parlor in Iron River, Wisconsin, is hardly the first restaurant to be accused of violating federal limits on the hours and tasks teenaged workers can be assigned, but several of the corrections it has agreed to make are literally of a different color.
As part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, or DOL, the pizzeria has agreed to put its teen employees in differently colored uniform tops, each hue indicating the age of the wearer. Different sorts of name tags can also be used to signal whether a youngster is too young to perform certain duties, like cleaning a meat grinder, driving deliveries to customers’ doors or tending the pizza ovens.
The deal calls for 14- and 15-year-olds to wear one color shirt or type of name tag, 16- and 17-year-olds another and employees 18 or over a third.
The unusual stipulation is intended to instantly indicate to management what duties a young staffer is legally allowed to undertake. Many employers complain that child-labor laws can be so complex in their jurisdictions, with state and local requirements complicating the federal guidelines, that violations are often inadvertent.
In addition to re-outfitting employees, Pizza Parlor proprietor Michelle Drougas has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $99,882 and affix stickers to the equipment employees under 18 are forbidden by federal law to operate.
In addition to the pizzeria’s meat grinder, the off-limits devices include the restaurant’s pizza ovens. DOL noted that employees under age 16 are allowed under federal rules to perform some kitchen duties but are barred from any baking activities, regardless of whether the item being produced is bread or pizza. The regulation is apparently intended to shield youngsters from the high heat given off by ovens.
DOL said its investigators had discovered that an employee under age 16 was manning Pizza Parlor’s ovens.
The unnamed individual was one of 11 minors who were found to be undertaking tasks prohibited for teens of their age. The department noted that the unauthorized duties included serving as pizza delivery drivers.
DOL also accused Drougas of scheduling teenaged workers for hours beyond what the regulations permit. Federal rules state that 14- and 15-year-olds may not work later than 7 p.m. during the school year or 9 p.m. during summer recess. In addition, hours are capped at three on a school day and 18 hours per week while school is in session.
The department voiced confidence that the changes Drougas has agreed to make will ensure teen employees will get the protections they’re afforded by federal law. Her compliance has resolved the investigation, DOL said.
It noted that Pizza Parlor has already paid $33,294 of its penalty and has until Sept. 30 to come up with the remainder, which can be paid in installments.
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