McDonald's franchise owner 'supersizes' paychecks

7/13/10 - Bill Taylor, president of B & D Taylor Inc. has agreed to pay $30,502.05 in back wages to five workers at the company's McDonald's restaurant at 3425 Sweet Air Road in Phoenix.

The investigation, conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that employees were paid straight time, rather than overtime, for hours worked in excess of 40 per week.

It also revealed that the company employed minors who worked in violation of the FLSA's child labor laws, which restrict the hours that minors can work and the tasks they can perform.

Both provisions were violated in this case. For the child labor violations, the department ordered the company to pay $9,990 in civil money penalties.

"Fast food restaurants like McDonald's have a legal responsibility to properly compensate workers, as well as ensure that any employed minors work appropriate hours in allowable occupations," said John Kelly, acting director of the Wage and Hour Division's Baltimore District Office.

For more information about the FLSA's requirements, call the Wage and Hour Division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE.