Homestead Restaurant fined $151K for child labor violations

BRISTOL — The McDonough family of restaurants, registered as Homestead Restaurant Inc., which has locations in Bristol and Merrimack as well as Fratello’s Italian Grille in Laconia and Fratello’s Ristorante Italiano in Manchester, signed a compliance agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to prevent further child labor violations after Bristol’s Homestead Restaurant & Tavern was fined $151,211.

Investigators with the Labor Department identified 20 child labor violations in Bristol, including allowing a 15-year-old to use a blowtorch for food preparation and another 15-year-old to clean a meat slicer. The restaurant employed 16 minors outside the hour and time limitations permitted under federal law, and employed two 13-year-old children as bussers, according to a department press release about the penalties.

The Fair Labor Standards Act forbids employers from hiring children under the age of 14 in industries such as food service, and makes it illegal to employ children under 18 in dangerous jobs.

Steven McKinney, district director of the Wage and Hours Division, said, “First jobs are an important part of growing up, but no job is worth endangering the safety and well-being of children. The Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to provide these learning experiences, as long as they make sure young workers’ safety and education are never jeopardized.”

Mark McDonough of the restaurant group, on behalf of himself and his brothers, said they are anxious to move on.

“All our locations are in compliance with the regulations required by the State and Federal Dept. of Labor and we look forward to continuing our diligent efforts to provide a great dining experience for our guests as we have for over 45 years,” he wrote in an email.

The compliance agreement states the restaurants will train managers about the child labor regulations and hold them accountable for compliance; refrain from hiring workers under the age of 14; provide child labor publications and fact sheets to all employees under the age of 18; perform monthly spot checks of minors’ time sheets to ensure compliance; and implement a comprehensive policy for employing 14- and 15-year-olds.

McKinney added, “The compliance agreement we reached with Homestead Restaurant Inc. ensures staff and management at its four locations understand all federal child labor requirements. It also protects young workers by providing them with safe and healthy working conditions for years to come.”