On December 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division announced that a restaurant and bar in Napa, California, called C Casa Restaurant and Bar Napa, allegedly violated federal labor laws. The Department’s investigation revealed serious allegations concerning child labor and the rights of nursing mothers in the workplace.
The restaurant allegedly allowed children as young as 14 years old to work outside the legally permitted hours during school days. Additionally, these young workers were reportedly tasked with using hazardous equipment, which is prohibited under the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). These rules are in place to ensure that minors have time for education and are protected from unsafe work conditions.
The investigation also alleged that the restaurant failed to provide a nursing employee with a private and appropriate space or time to pump breast milk during her shifts. Instead of accommodating the employee, the restaurant allegedly retaliated against her by cutting her work hours, reducing her earnings. These actions violate federal laws designed to protect nursing mothers in the workplace. As a result of these alleged violations, the Department of Labor recovered $3,300 in lost wages for the nursing employee. The restaurant also faced $45,570 in civil penalties for alleged child labor violations.