U.S. Department of Labor Fines City of Orem After Investigation Finds Child Labor Violations

CITY OF OREM, UT – The City of Orem, Utah, has paid $16,350 in civil money penalties to resolve child labor violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found the city employed 25 children under the age of 16 at its Scera Park Pools after 9 p.m. in the summers of 2017 and 2018.

The FLSA does not contain any hours requirements for minors 16 years of age and older.  Employees under the age of 16 may only work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; except between June 1 and Labor Day, when the evening hour is extended to 9 p.m.  In addition, these employees must work outside of school hours, not more than three hours on a school day, not more than eight hours on a non-school day, not more than 18 hours during a week when school is in session, and not more than 40 hours during a week when school is not in session.

“Child labor laws exist to provide meaningful work experience to young people while also keeping them safe on the job,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Kevin Hunt in Salt Lake City. “Employers must be aware of both federal and state laws that apply to workers under age 18. We encourage all employers to review their employment obligations and to contact the Wage and Hour Division for compliance assistance.”

The Department offers numerous resources and tools to help employers understand their responsibilities and comply with federal law, including a Youth Employment Compliance Assistance Toolkit.

Local WHD offices welcome confidential calls and in-person visits, and the Division’s library of online videos offers useful information on FLSA compliance. 

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.