McDonald’s franchises in Kentucky forced 10-year-olds to work until 2 a.m. — without pay

The US government slapped three McDonald’s franchises in Kentucky with more than $200,000 in fines after an investigation found they employed minors, including a 10-year-old who was illegally made to work until 2 a.m. and who was allowed to operate a deep fryer — all without getting paid.

A franchise in Louisville employed two 10-year-old workers who were among some two dozen minors under the age of 16 to work across 10 McDonald’s locations owned by Louisville-based Bauer Food LLC, it was alleged.

The minors were tasked with preparing and distributing food orders, cleaning the store, manning the drive-thru windows, operating a register, and manning the deep fryer, which is only permitted for employees over the age of 16, according to a statement by the US Department of Labor.

“Investigators also determined two 10-year-old children were employed – but not paid – and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.,” according to the feds.

Bauer Food LLC was forced to pay $39,711 in fines that were levied by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.