City of Concord, New Hampshire, Pays Penalties for Child Labor Violations Following Injury to Teen Worker at Ice Arena

MANCHESTER, NH – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the City of Concord, New Hampshire, paid $9,645 in civil money penalties for violations of the child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at the Douglas N. Everett Ice Arena, which led to the injury of one minor employee.

WHD investigators found the employer violated FLSA child labor requirements by employing four 14- and 15-year-old employees – working at the rink’s snack bar – to operate a deep-fat fryer not equipped with a device that automatically lowers and raises the basket into and out of the hot oil. One 14-year-old employee suffered burns while using the fryer. Investigators also found the City of Concord employed 14- and 15-year-old employees to work more than 8 hours on a non-school day, more than 3 hours on a day when school was in session and later than the permitted evening hours for that age group – all violations of federal child labor regulations.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to helping young workers enjoy positive, appropriate and safe employment experiences,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Daniel Cronin, in Manchester, New Hampshire. “Child labor laws ensure that young people’s work does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities and curtail injuries such as the one that occurred in this case. Child labor violations are avoidable and all employers should strive to provide a safe and healthy on-the-job experience for young workers.”

The Department offers numerous resources to ensure employers have the tools they need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with federal law, such as online videos, confidential calls, or in-person visits to local WHD offices.

For more information about the child labor standards, the FLSA, and other laws enforced by WHD, contact the Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Additional information for young workers, parents, employers and educators is available at the YouthRules website.

The mission of WHD is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation's workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.