Chicago-area McDonald’s improperly hired teens to work long hours, lawsuit alleges
Lockport McDonald's child labor lawsuit
The Illinois Attorney General's Office is suing the owner of a McDonald's in Lockport after they say he violated child labor laws.
LOCKPORT, Ill. - The owner of a suburban McDonald’s restaurant was accused of improperly hiring several teenagers and working them for long hours without breaks over several months, in violation of child labor laws.
What we know:
The Illinois Attorney General’s Office sued the company owned by Nicholas J. Kory, which owns and operates the McDonald’s in southwest suburban Lockport.
The lawsuit alleges that Kory’s company improperly employed dozens of 14 and 15-year-olds to work at the McDonalds without the necessary work authorization.
The restaurant managers also had the underage employees work "excessive" hours during the school year, including hours late at night, even as late as 1 a.m., in violation of child labor laws, according to the lawsuit. The children were also worked as long as 17 hours straight.
An audit of the restaurant by the Illinois Department of Labor found at least 568 violations of state law between Jan. 1, 2023, and July 8, 2023, according to the lawsuit.
Child labor laws restrict the employment of children under the age of 16. They need to obtain employment certification from a local school authority and can only work outside of school hours in "non-manufacturing and non-hazardous jobs," according to the attorney general’s lawsuit. The law also limits the number of hours a day and days per week they can work.
For these alleged violations, the IDOL fined the business more than $2.1 million, which the business had not paid, according to the lawsuit.
"Now, the Illinois Attorney General files this action to hold Lockor and Kory accountable for their egregious, unlawful employment of children in violation of State law," the lawsuit said.
What they're saying:
Kory responded to the allegations in a statement provided via a McDonald's spokesperson:
"We take this matter seriously. It does not reflect our organization’s values or the standards we set for ourselves as a local business or an employer in the community. We are committed to ensuring that all our employees feel safe, respected and valued. We have taken steps to address concerns that have been raised."
In a statement, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in part:
"Employment can teach minors valuable lessons in responsibility and money management. It is absolutely unacceptable that a local business owner would take advantage of young employees who are just starting their time in the workforce. The Child Labor Law exists for a reason – to prevent this very situation from occurring, which is why any company that violates the law must be held accountable."
IDOL Director Jane Flanagan also released a statement:
"This case should send a clear message: exploiting children in the workplace will not be tolerated in Illinois. Our investigation uncovered minors working excessive hours, late into the night, and without the basic protections the law requires. These are not technical violations — they are serious breaches that put young people’s health, safety, and education at risk. The Illinois Department of Labor will continue to use every tool available to hold employers accountable and ensure that workplaces protect, not endanger, our children."