Oh Man! Successful Idaho Ice Cream Chain Faces $321K Fine

Nampa Ice Cream Manufacturer Faces Major Penalties

It's a place that I believe we have all tried at least once, and if you've had it once, there's a good chance that you've had it again and again. According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Labor, a popular ice cream manufacturer and retailer based in Nampa is under fire after federal investigations revealed serious child labor violations across Boise, Caldwell, Eagle, and Nampa locations.

"Learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up, but we must protect children and ensure their first jobs are safe and do not interfere with their education or well-being," said Wage and Hour Division District Director Katherine Walum in Portland, Oregon. "The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for work experiences but restricts the employment of young workers in certain jobs and provides for penalties when employers do not follow the law."

The U.S. Department of Labor has assessed the company with civil penalties totaling $321,015 for endangering young workers and violating labor laws.

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Dangerous Tasks Assigned to Minors

Investigators from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, Stella's Ice Cream employed children as young as 15 and 15 in hazardous roles strictly prohibited by federal law. The tasks included operating industrial mixers and driving delivery vans. They were also found working beyond legal hours, 10:30 pm during the school year.

Illegal Tip-Sharing Scheme

The investigation also uncovered another serious violation. Stella’s Ice Cream illegally shared tips earned by its frontline workers with managers and supervisors. Federal law under the FLSA prohibits managers from being included in a tip pool, and this breach led to the recovery of $79,463 in back wages and liquidated damages for 208 affected employees.

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