DOL reminds employers about hour limits for those under 16

The operator of the Magic Springs Theme and Water Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, has paid $13,734 to settle charges that it violated the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD) investigators discovered that 14- and 15-year-olds were employed outside of the hours allowed for workers of that age and for more hours than allowed by law. The agency alleged that 21 minors worked after 7 p.m. on school nights, worked more than three hours on a school day, worked more than eight hours on a non-school day, worked after 9 p.m. during the summer and worked for more than 40 hours per week during non-school days. "Companies that employ minors must be aware of the rules that apply to workers less than 18 years old," said a WHD district director, Hanz Grünauer, in a statement. "We encourage all employers to contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division with any questions they may have.