Crumbl cookie stores in East Bay fined over treatment of young employees

Three Crumbl cookie stores in the East Bay are among 11 franchise locations accused of violating child labor laws.

A federal investigation found that Crumbl employees as young as 14 worked more than the law permits or in hazardous jobs, said a news release Tuesday from the Department of Labor.

The East Bay stores cited are:

• San Ramon, 9 minor employees involved, fine of $15,417
• Brentwood, 6 minor employees involved, fine of $7,453
• Concord, 3 minor employees involved, fine of $3,597

The San Ramon store’s fine was the largest imposed. Four of the other stores accused of violations are in Utah, where the company’s headquarters is located, and the rest are in Washington, Minnesota, Tennessee and New Hampshire.

Federal law says that 14- and 15-year-olds cannot work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per workweek, whether or not school is in session. They also cannot work between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. during the summer or between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. the rest of the year.

All workers under 18 are prohibited from performing tasks classified as hazardous, which in Crumbl’s case includes operating certain types of ovens and other machinery.

Crumbl began in 2017 and has more than 600 franchised shops in 47 states.