A Chick-fil-A location was fined for paying non-employees in food vouchers instead of living wages.
The Chick-fil-A location in Hendersonville, North Carolina, was fined for illegally paying some workers in meals rather than hourly wages.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor said the restaurant violated child labor laws by using underage teenagers for hazardous work.
The Department of Labor fined the franchisee $6,685 following an investigation that found non-employees were asked to direct traffic outside the restaurant, then paid with meal vouchers instead of the minimum wage as legally required, the federal agency said.
The investigation determined the franchisee paid the volunteers in food vouchers because paying them an hourly wage would have revealed their child labor law violations.
The agency also found that three teenagers under 18 were operating a trash compactor — a violation of rules that prohibit minors from performing hazardous work.
“Child labor laws ensure that when young people work, the work does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities,” said the DOL’s Richard Blaylock in a news release. He added that employers “are responsible to pay workers for all of the hours worked and the payment must be made in cash or legal tender.”
A now-deleted post on the restaurant’s Facebook page asked for “volunteers” for its drive-thru. “Earn five free entrees per shift (1 hr) worked,” the ad read.
