Arkansas Amusement Park Operator Resolves Child Labor Violations Found in U.S. Department of Labor Investigation

HOT SPRINGS, AR – Premier Parks LLC – operator of Magic Springs Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas – has paid $13,734 in civil money penalties to resolve violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA) child labor provisions discovered during a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigation.

Premier Parks LLC violated federal child labor law by employing 14- and 15-year-old minors to work outside of the specific timeframes allowed for workers of that age, and for more hours than allowed by law. WHD investigators found 21 minors worked after 7 p.m. on school nights, worked more than 3 hours on a school day, worked more than 8 hours on a non-school day, worked after 9 p.m. during the summer, and worked more than 40 hours per week during non-school days - all FLSA violations.

"Companies that employ minors must be aware of the rules that apply to workers less than 18 years old," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Hanz Grünauer, in Little Rock, Arkansas. "We encourage all employers to contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division with any questions they may have."

The U.S. Department of Labor provides numerous resources and tools to help employers understand their responsibilities and comply with federal law, such as online videos, confidential calls, or in-person visits to local WHD offices.

Employers who discover overtime or minimum wage violations may self-report and resolve those violations without litigation through the PAID program. For more information about the FLSA, and other laws enforced by the Division, contact the toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at www.dol.gov/whd including a search tool for workers who may be owed back wages collected by WHD.