Las Vegas Pizza Shops Are Being Fined, Accused Of Employing Children Illegally
If you’ve ever been to a Blaze Pizza, there’s a chance your “fast fire’d” blazed pie was made illegally! When I spoke about it on the radio earlier today, I thought to myself that it’s such a weird thing to say out loud – However, according to a few different sources, including KSNV (Channel 3 News) the Las Vegas pizza chain is currently in some hot water for hiring kids to work at their pizza locations.
The pizza company, called Bryz Guys Inc., is being targeted by the US Labor Department, for what they’re describing as letting children do dangerous jobs!
Las Vegas Pizza Chain Is Being Accused of Employing Children Illegally
According to KSNV’s reporting, investigators discovered 23 kid, between the ages of 15 and 17, we seen working with large, heavy machines to mix the pizza dough and this type of work is deemed too dangerous for children their ages.
Our friends at Fox 5 (KVVU – Las Vegas) also covered the story. Their reporting suggests that there were also multiple (5) fifteen-year-olds who were working more than 3 hours during their school days. Sometimes, being on the clock as late at 10:30 pm. According to Fox 5’s article, there’s a law that says kids 14 and 15 CAN work, however, kid those ages are only legally allowed to work up to 3 hours on school days. Also, kids that young are not allowed to work past 7 pm from the day after Labor Day through May 31st.
Hefty Fines For Las Vegas Pizza Chain
Gene Ramos, from the Labor Department, is quoted in both articles. In a nutshell, he talks about the importance of children to learn new skills. However, Gene Ramos reiterates that these new skills must be taught (and learned) in the safest ways possible. Ramos also mentions that work cannot interfere with the well-being of these children or their schooling. The pizza company, Bryz Guys Inc. has been fined more than $277K for the violations.