Area McDonald’s franchises commit dozens of child labor violations, feds allege

By Claire Sullivan
Contributing Writer

(lailluminator.com) — Dozens of teens working at McDonald’s franchise locations in the New Orleans area were subject to illegal working conditions, federal officials announced late last month.

Investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor reported CLB Investments LLC of Metairie had 72 workers from 14 to 15 years old work longer than allowed under child labor laws. The investigators also found workers under 16 were allowed to operate manual deep fryers, which is illegal.

The violations occurred across 12 restaurants in Kenner, Jefferson, Metairie and New Orleans, one of which is now closed, the announcement said. The Department of Labor fined the company $56,106 in civil penalties.

State business records show Christopher Bardell of LaPlace as the principal of CLB Investments. Bardell was reached by phone by the Louisiana Illuminator but hung up when asked for comment.

Federal investigators found similar child labor violations at four franchise locations in Texas. They involved 10 employees from 14 to 15 years old.

The employer allowed the teens to do tasks that are prohibited or considered unsafe for young workers, investigators found, including operating manual deep fryers and trash compactors. The franchisee responsible was fined $21,466.

“The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for appropriate work opportunities for young people but includes important restrictions on their work hours and job duties to keep kids safe,” Betty Campbell, a regional administrator for the department’s wage and hour division, said in a news release announcing the violations.

McDonald’s franchise locations have a recent history of breaking child labor laws, according to the labor department. In May, federal investigators announced violations involving more than 300 children at 62 locations across four states.

In the 2022 fiscal year, the Department of Labor found 3,876 children subject to labor violations, a 60 percent increase since 2018.

This article originally published in the August 7, 2023 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.