Kentucky McDonald’s Had 10-Year-Olds Working the Deep Fryer & Cash Register

A Kentucky McDonald’s is in hot water after two 10-year-olds were found working in the restaurant.

A federal labor investigation determined the children were performing the same job duties as legal-age employees. Both youngsters were preparing meals in the kitchen and distributing them through the drive-thru window. They also worked the cash register, and at least one of them was allowed to operate the deep fryer, a potentially dangerous factor that is prohibited for anyone under age 16. Even more troubling, the 10-year-olds were unpaid and required to work up to 2:00 a.m. Sadly, they were not alone.

The investigation found over 300 children working at 62 McDonald’s locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio were employed under similar conditions. The locations in question operated under three franchisees: Archways Richwood LLC, Bauer Food LLC, and Bell Restaurant Group I LLC. However, the bulk of the restaurants were located in Kentucky. Bauer Food LLC claims the two 10-year-olds were the children of a night manager who were only supposed to be visiting their parent on the job. The company claims they were not aware the kids were working and did not approve of such actions.

Tiffanie Boyd, who serves as the senior vice president and chief people officer at McDonald’s USA, is outraged over the investigation’s findings. She called the reports “unacceptable” and “deeply troubling.” Boyd, whose teenage son is a former employee of McDonald’s, takes such matters personally and is committed to ensuring this never happens again.

The franchisees face up to $212,754 in combined child labor violations.