The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is investigating 60 rural
Michigan supermarkets to determine if they are in compliance with the youth
employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The supermarkets
that are being investigated were randomly selected from 47 rural Michigan counties.
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Download NowIn January, the department mailed compliance-assistance information to 485
rural supermarkets. Approximately 60 supermarkets will be investigated in March
to determine if they are adhering to the laws that protect young workers.
The department says that investigations conducted last year of rural Michigan
supermarkets found minors under age 16 working later or for more hours than
permitted by federal regulations. The investigations also disclosed minors operating
power-driven meat slicers and dough-mixing machines in violation of federal
law.
"As a result of a similar initiative last year, we realized the need to
continue raising awareness of the laws that protect vulnerable young employees,"
says James Smith, district director of the Wage and Hour Division in Detroit.
"We will continue to work with employers to ensure that teens have safe
and rewarding work experiences during hours that do not interfere with their
studies."