Just as a king who demands his many serfs, Cave Enterprises, a Burger King franchisee in Wisconsin, had treated many employees more or less like servants. The primary issue is that these workers were all children, numbering over 600. According to FOX6 News Milwaukee, the franchisee has broken records by accumulating 1,656 violations, which broke child labor and wage payment laws in Wisconsin.
These violations include failing to pay overtime, cutting meal breaks, allowing kids to work without a valid permit, and plenty more. These shocking practices have taken place over two years, and now it’s time for Cave Enterprises to pay the price, sort of.
The authorities are charging the Burger King franchisee a penalty of $500 per violation, totaling $828,000 in payments to the state. Fortunately, the minors who were affected by these violations of child labor law will receive compensation of $237,000, which is supposed to cover unpaid wages and overtime. “That’s why it’s always open 24/7😂,” jokes a commenter.
Still, some online users are wondering why the state is receiving such a massive payment instead of it also going to the kids. “THE STATE?!?!? All the money should go to the kids who were taken advantage of,” exclaims an individual. “Why does the state get more money than the victims of the wage theft?” questions another. “The state wants their cut,” remarks a third person.
Besides the state taking a huge cut of the penalty fees, several Redditors feel as though the $500 penalty is still too low for breaking child labor laws over a thousand times. “They likely saved more than $500 per kid employee,” says one user. “If the only penalty for a crime is a fine then it is legal for a price. Send some people to jail for this exploitation,” demands a second, implying that fees for a business worth well over a million dollars aren’t punishment enough.
At the very least, some justice is being carried out against an exploitative fast food franchisee, ironically, Burger King’s. That said, it’s rather a shame it took years and dozens of complaints before the authorities finally investigated Cave Enterprises, but who isn’t to say there are plenty more businesses operating like this across the state or even the country?
