An Oregon golf entertainment business and restaurant was fined $21,330 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) for allowing teen workers to load trash bags into compactors.
Loading trash into compactors is a prohibited job for teen workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The DOL Wage and Hour Division found that Topgolf USA Hillsboro, a subsidiary of Topgolf International Inc., allowed underage employees to engage in the activity that’s deemed too dangerous for minors.
“Learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up, but we must protect children and make sure their first jobs are safe and that their jobs don’t interfere with their education or well-being,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Carrie Aguilar.
More information on federal child labor laws and how to keep teen workers safe can be found on the Wage and Hour Division’s YouthRules! initiative website. The Wage and Hour Division has also published Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers to help employers comply with the law.