REGION – A management company and its owners will pay more than $145,000 to resolve more than 1,200 violations of the state’s child labor statutes across several Dunkin’ locations in the state, including Westborough and Grafton.
Attorney General Maura Healey made the announcement on Oct. 31.
The Westford Group Inc., and its president and treasurer, Michael and Brian Marino, were issued five citations by the AG’s office for child labor law violations at 14 Dunkin’ stores the company operates in Lowell, Worcester, Grafton, Millbury, Westborough and Leominster.
The violations include:
- failing to obtain a work permit for minor workers;
- failing to supervise minors past 8 p.m.;
- employing a 16- or 17-year-old minor to work before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m.;
- employing a minor under the age of 18 for more than nine hours in a single workday;
- and employing a minor under the age of 16 before 6:30 a.m. or after 7 p.m. and for more than eight hours in a single workday.
“Companies that employ young workers have a responsibility to provide a safe and productive work environment,” said Healey. “We are committed to protecting the rights of young workers in Massachusetts and ensuring that employers understand and comply with our labor laws.”
The Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division began investigating the Westford Group following a complaint from a minor employee, alleging that they were required to work more than 10 hours per day. Through an audit of the records from 14 of the group’s locations, the AG’s office discovered more than 1,200 child labor law violations had occurred at the stores over a year and a half, impacting more than 50 employees in total.
The AG’s office has previously taken action against other Dunkin’ franchisees.
This case is part of Attorney General Healey’s ongoing efforts to protect the rights of young workers at fast food chains across Massachusetts.
The Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including prevailing wage, minimum wage, overtime and earned sick time laws.
Under Massachusetts law, children under 18 may not work more than 9 hours in a day or more than 48 hours in a week. Fourteen- and 15-year-old children may not work later than 7 p.m., and 16- and 17-year-old children may not work later than 10 p.m. on a night preceding a school day, or later than midnight preceding a non-school day. State law also requires employers to have work permits on file for all workers under 18 years of age.
This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Kate Watkins, and investigator Lili Wu, both of the AG’s Fair Labor Division.
