Pretzel franchise with San Bernardino store fined $50,000 over work rules for minors
A regional franchisee of the Auntie Anne’s pretzel store chain has paid more than $50,000 in civil penalties for allowing minors to work in violation of federal rules at six locations, including one at the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino.
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Monday that Glendale-based Pretzel King LLC paid the fines after a two-year department investigation found that the company had allowed 11 workers, ages 14 and 15, to work beyond hours permitted by law.
The franchisee also allowed nine youths to be involved in baking, which is prohibited for 14- and 15-year-olds. Sixty minors operated freight elevators, dough mixers and trash compactors, all prohibited for workers younger than 18, the department said in a written statement.
The other stores cited in the probe, which ended in March 2006, were in Downey, Arcadia, Glendale, Northridge and Bakersfield.
Pretzel King officials paid the $51,500 in penalties on Feb. 28, said Roger Gayman, a spokesman in the Labor Department’s San Francisco office.
Gayman said the San Bernardino location was fined a total of $15,840 for:
seven hazardous-occupation violations involving 16- and and 17-year-olds operating a trash compactor and
five hazardous-occupation violations involving 16- and 17-year-olds working with dough mixers.
Franchise owner Linda King, of Glendale, could not be reached for comment Monday.
Gayman said the investigation began with spot checks of businesses throughout Southern California that employ young workers.
The basic federal minimum age for employment in non-agricultural occupations is 14. Minors age 14 and 15 may work outside school hours but not before 7 a.m. and not after 9 p.m. from June 1 until Labor Day and not after 7 p.m. during the rest of the year.
By LOU HIRSH for The Press-Enterprise
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