Kids operated open-flame ovens, but were denied overtime pay at Ohio pizzeria, feds say

Children under the age of 16 worked in violation of child labor laws at a pair of Ohio restaurants, while also being denied overtime pay, federal officials say.

The two Cincinnati-area locations of Mio’s Pizza were fined a total of $30,000, the U.S. Department of Labor announced on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

At the two restaurants — one in Cincinnati and one in the suburb of Milford — 21 minors operated hazardous kitchenware that federal guidelines prohibited them from using.

“(The workers were) illegally allowed to use manual fryers, operate gas ovens with an open flame, move pizza in and out of a broiler/conveyor oven and use a mechanical dough puller and sheeter,” the Department of Labor said.

By law, workers must be at least 16 to operate such equipment.

The restaurant also assigned 36 minors to shifts that violated guidelines for how many hours child employees can legally work, according to the news release.

The law states 14- and 15-year-olds can work three hours on a school day and no more than 18 hours per week when school is in session.

Managers at both restaurants denied the workers overtime pay, indicating their weekly salary of $584 would exempt them from earning extra money.

“By law, employers may only claim an exemption from overtime for managers when they meet several duties tests and are paid weekly salaries of more than $684 a week,” officials said.

The violations occurred when Dan and Leslie Igo owned the pizzerias. The couple no longer own the Milford restaurant, according to the Department of Labor.

The Department of Labor said it fined the restaurant $30,000 and recovered $11,950 in back overtime wages.

“Mio’s Pizza has a responsibility to understand the federal overtime exemption for managers and ensure that employees receive the wages they have earned,” said Matthew Utley, the Department of Labor’s wage and hour district director in Columbus.

This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 6:23 AM with the headline "Kids operated open-flame ovens, but were denied overtime pay at Ohio pizzeria, feds say."