Cranberry Township McDonald's franchise owner fined over child labor violations

The Cranberry Township-based company that operates five McDonald’s restaurants in the region has been fined for violating federal child labor regulations.

The U.S. Department of Labor said it found that Endor Inc. employed 34 children to work later and longer than permitted by law.

The department’s Wage and Hour Division said Endor employed 14- and 15-year-old children to work outside permissible hours, including working before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1; during school hours; later than 9 p.m. on days between June 1 and Labor Day; more than 3 hours on a school day and more than 18 hours during a regular school week; and more than 8 hours on a non-school day.

Owned by Paul and Meghan Sweeney, Endor Inc. paid $26,894 in fines.

Paul and Megan Sweeney did not return a TribLive call on Monday. They are also listed online as owners of Tri County Management — described as a “three-generation family business and McDonald’s franchise organization for more than 55 years.”

The locations cited were McDonald’s in Brookville, Clarion, Punxsutawney and St. Mary’s.

“Fast food restaurants offer young workers an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, but federal law makes sure their experiences do not come at the expense of their education or well-being,” John DuMont, Wage and Hour Division district director in Pittsburgh, said in a statement.

“The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for developmental experiences but restricts the work hours of 14- and 15-year-olds and provides for penalties when employers do not follow the law,” DuMont said.