Press Release  AG Campbell Cites Shake Shack For Child Labor Violations

BOSTON — Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced that her office has reached a settlement with national restaurant chain Shake Shack Enterprises LLC (Shake Shack) in which they will agree to pay penalties for violating various state child labor laws. As a result of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) investigation, Shake Shack will pay a total of $244,500, including $122,250 in penalties and a $122,250 payment to a state fund used for enforcement and education of state employment laws, including training and development to improve youth employment opportunities.  

The AGO found that in violation of Massachusetts’ child labor laws, between January 2022 and December 2022, Shake Shack failed to obtain valid work permits prior to employing minors and scheduled minors for work during legally prohibited hours and in excess of the state’s 48 hour per week limit. These violations impacted more than 200 employees. 

“Our child labor laws protect vulnerable young people as they embark on jobs to learn skills, give back to their communities, and earn their own money,” said AG Campbell. “I appreciate Shake Shack’s willingness to work with my Office to remediate these issues, and I am grateful that they will make a significant payment towards improving youth employment opportunities in the Commonwealth.” 

The AGO began investigating this matter upon receiving a complaint alleging that minors at a Shake Shack location in Woburn were required to work past legally restricted working hours. As a result of the investigation, the AGO found child labor violations at twelve Shake Shack locations in the following municipalities: Chestnut Hill, Cambridge, Dedham, Watertown, Woburn, Somerville, Burlington, Hingham, Everett, Andover, and Boston. Shake Shack fully cooperated with the AGO’s investigation and has taken steps to come into compliance with the law.

Massachusetts’ child labor laws impose certain requirements related to minors in the workplace, including limitations on their hours and types of jobs. State law also requires employers to obtain a Youth Employment Permit for all workers under the age of 18. More information and resources on Youth Employment Permits, including permit applications, may be found at mass.gov/dols/youth. The AGO has also issued a fact sheet related to prevention of child labor exploitation.  

In 2019, the AGO entered a settlement agreement with Shake Shack in relation to similar violations of the state’s child labor laws, including failure to obtain youth work permits and employment of minors during legally prohibited hours. As part of the settlement, the AGO issued $90,000 in penalties against the company.  

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Amy Goyer and Investigator Kimberly Lampereur, both of the AGO’s Fair Labor Division, which is tasked with enforcing the state’s child labor, wage and hour, and other employment laws.    

This matter is representative of AG Campbell’s ongoing commitment to protect and strengthen the health, safety, and well-being of youth across the Commonwealth, including through advancing youth economic opportunity and workplace justice, as underscored in her strategic plan. This past summer, in recognition of the tenth anniversary of the AGO’s Healthy Summer Youth Jobs (HSYJ) Program, AG Campbell highlighted more than $4 million in child-labor-related restitutions and penalties secured by the AGO’s Fair Labor Division during her administration. The HSYJ Program is an annual grant program that uses funds received through the AGO’s health care and child labor settlements to fund health-focused employment opportunities for young people. 

Workers in Massachusetts who believe their workplace rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint with the AGO’s Fair Labor Division at mass.gov/ago/fld. For more information about the state’s employment laws, workers may call the AGO’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or visit mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for information available in multiple languages.

###