U.S. Department of Labor Finds North Florida Seafood Restaurant Employed Minors in Violation of Federal Law

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has determined that Palm Valley Outdoors LLC, a north Florida seafood restaurant, violated child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). WHD issued the restaurant $4,294 in civil money penalties.

WHD investigators found that Palm Valley Outdoors LLC violated the FLSA when it allowed six minor employees - ranging from 13-to-14 years old - to perform hosting and running duties for more than three hours on a school day, with some shifts ending later than 8 p.m. Employing a minor younger than 14 years old in a restaurant is illegal. The FLSA's child labor provisions allow 14- and 15-year-old employees to work outside of school hours in non-hazardous jobs for no more than three hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week. The provisions also prohibit those employees from shifts that begin before 7 a.m. and end after 7 p.m., except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended to 9 p.m.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to keeping young employees safe in the workplace," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Daniel White, in Jacksonville. "We encourage all employers to use the multiple tools we offer to learn about their legal responsibilities and comply with the law, and to call us for assistance."

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at https://www.dol.gov/whd.