CENTRAL FLORIDA — The owners of multiple Panera Bread cafes across Central Florida are facing serious penalties after being accused of violating federal child labor laws, according to court documents obtained by News 6.
Between 2021 and 2023, approximately 240 minors under the age of 16 were allegedly employed at roughly 15 Panera Bread locations in the Orlando area. A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor claims the franchisees engaged in “oppressive child labor” by allowing these minors to work in violation of legal restrictions on hours and scheduling.
Federal labor law places strict limits on when and how long 14- and 15-year-olds can work. They may not work:
- More than 3 hours on a school day or more than 8 hours on a non-school day
- More than 18 hours during a school week or 40 hours during a non-school week
- Outside of the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. window, or until 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day
Although the lawsuit does not specify the exact shifts or total hours the minors worked, the allegations were enough to prompt a consent decree. As part of that agreement, the owners will pay $600,000 in fines, split into four installments beginning July 15, pending court approval.
The decree also mandates that the franchisees implement employee training programs and internal audits to ensure compliance with federal child labor regulations moving forward.
The U.S. Department of Labor has emphasized the seriousness of the charges, framing them as a significant violation of workers’ rights protections for young employees.
