Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect that, according to the state, GCWen has already paid the $300,000-fine.
The operator of a half-dozen Wendy’s franchises in Bucks County declined to comment Thursday on hundreds of Pennsylvania Child Labor Law Act violations the commonwealth alleges it committed in 2023.
The 766 violations stem from GCWen Management’s alleged treatment of nearly 100 child employees and range from failing to provide adequate breaks to allowing them to work an excessive number of hours. The infractions carry a total fine of $300,000, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
An L&I spokesman said Thursday that GCWen has paid the fine "in full."
GCWen runs Wendy’s restaurants in Doylestown, Quakertown and Morrisville boroughs and Hilltown, Bensalem and Bristol townships.
L&I’s Bureau of Labor Law Compliance is the office that enforces Pennsylvania’s Child Labor Act. It opened an investigation into GCWen’s Pa. franchises after receiving a tip from L&I’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation about minor injuries to children being reported at various Wendy’s locations.
The investigation included all 21 GCWen Wendy’s stores in Bucks, Montgomery and Chester counties. The Monmouth County-based GCWen also operates eight New Jersey Wendy’s restaurants, according to its website.
A statement L&I released Wednesday accused GCWen of the following violations:
• Failure to provide adequate breaks: 432 violations involving 81 children
• Excessive hours worked: 208 violations involving 34 children
• Failure to notify the school district when students begin or end employment: 98 violations involving 98 children
• Employing children that didn’t have work permits: 18 violations involving 18 children
• Employing children under the age of 16 without parental authorization: 10 violations involving 10 children
The statement from L&I noted that “as part of the settlement agreement, GCWen management teams at all their Wendy’s locations are required to undergo training provided by BLLC on how to adhere to the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act.
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