Investigation finds hundreds of children, including a pair of 10-year-olds, working at McDonald's


More than 300 children were found working at McDonald's restaurants in Kentucky and several other states, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) said Tuesday. This includes one location in Louisville where a pair of 10-year-olds were allegedly found to be working unpaid, sometimes until 2 a.m.
In a press release, the DOL announced the results of an investigation into labor practices at three franchisees operating 62 McDonald's locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio. The investigation found that the trio of franchisees "employed 305 children to work more than the legally permitted hours and perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers."
Bauer Food LLC, which operates 10 McDonald's restaurants in the Louisville area, was allegedly found to be employing 24 minors under the age of 16, including the two 10-year-olds. These two children "prepared and distributed food orders, cleaned the store, worked at the drive-thru window, and operated a register," the DOL said. At least one of them was also allowed to operate a deep fryer, the DOL added, a task prohibited by federal law for employees under 16.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Franchise owner-operator Sean Bauer told The Associated Press the 10-year-olds were only visiting their parent that managed the store, and didn't actually work there. "Any 'work' was done at the direction of — and in the presence of — the parent without authorization by franchisee organization management or leadership," Bauer added.
The other two franchisees, Archways Richwood LLC and Bell Restaurant Group I LLC, also allowed 242 and 39 minors, respectively, to work beyond law-permitting hours, the DOL alleged.
The franchisees were fined a combined $212,754 for violating child labor laws, the DOL said.
McDonald's USA spokeswoman Tiffanie Boyd said the DOL's report was "unacceptable, deeply troubling, and run afoul of the high expectations we have for the entire McDonald's brand."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Pam Bondi, retirement planning, and more
By The Week US
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US