Massachusetts AG’s Office resolves matters totaling $1+ million concerning thousands of violations against Dunkin’ franchisees

BOSTON – The Attorney General’s Office has resolved two matters for a combined total of more than $1 million concerning thousands of child labor violations against Dunkin’ franchisees, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced today. These cases are part of AG Campbell’s ongoing effort to protect the rights of workers, particularly young workers.

“Companies who employ young workers must comply with our child labor laws and provide a safe and fair environment for them,” said AG Campbell. “My office remains committed to protecting the health and well-being of the state’s youngest workers, ensuring their rights are protected, and that companies are complying with the rules we have in place.”

In the first matter, Dunkin’ franchisees Neal Faulkner, Erica Placido-Coelho and Denise Nicolace, who between them own and operate 25 Dunkin’ locations across central and southeastern Massachusetts, reached a settlement with the AGO totaling $1 million. As part of the agreement, the franchise owners have agreed to pay citations totaling $500,000, as well as $500,000 towards a fund to be administered by the AG’s Office for the enforcement and education of the wage and hour laws, including the education and training of young workers.

This matter originally involved complaints at three locations, but the investigation soon encompassed all 25 locations. The violations include requiring minors to work more than six hours a day without a meal break, employing a minor after 8:00 p.m. without an adult supervisor, employment of a minor past the latest permissible hour, employing a minor for more than the maximum numbers allowed in a day, and minors working without a work permit.

A separate investigation into another Dunkin’ franchise, Shrewsbury Enterprise, LLC, and its owner George Fellows, recently resulted in citations totaling over $100,000. In that matter, the violations included employing a minor past the earliest and latest permissible hours, employing minors for more than eight hours per day, employing a minor after 8:00 pm without an adult supervisor, employing a minor for more than nine hours in a day. Under different LLCs, Fellows currently operates 10 Dunkin’ locations in Worcester and Shrewsbury.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Fair Labor Division’s enforcement related to Dunkin’ businesses totaled nearly $1.75 million. Earlier this year, AG Campbell issued citations against two Dunkin’ franchisees for child labor violations. In October 2022, the AG’s Office announced citations issued to the owners of Dunkin’ stores located in Lowell, Worcester, Grafton, Millbury, Westborough, and Leominster, for violations of the child labor laws. In 2021, the AG’s Office also issued citations to a management company and its owner, which operated 10 Dunkin’ locations to resolve similar violations.

The Massachusetts child labor laws impose certain requirements related to minors in the workplace, including limiting the hours workers under 18 can work and the kinds of jobs that they can do. State law also requires employers to have Youth Employment Permits (work permits) on file for all workers under 18 and minors generally must be supervised after 8 pm.

In June, AG Campbell hosted a convening with representatives from the immigrant, education and business communities, to build public awareness surrounding workplace protections for migrant and other vulnerable children in Massachusetts and speak to the Office’s ongoing efforts to thwart poor working conditions and exploitation of youth and vulnerable communities.

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated in the workplace are encouraged to file a complaint online at www.mass.gov/ago/fld. For more information about the state’s wage and hour laws, workers may call the AG’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or go to www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor for materials in multiple languages.

The first matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Barbara Dillon DeSouza and Investigator Erin MacKenzie and the Shrewsbury Enterprise, LLC matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Anita Maietta and Investigator Matija Zizanovic, all of the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division.