GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids-based franchisee of 53 Wendy's fast-food restaurants paid nearly $260,000 in penalties for violating child-labor laws, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday, Feb. 16.

Investigators determined that WM Limited Partnership-1998, which does business as Wendy's of Michigan, allowed three 14- and 15-year-old workers to operate manual deep fryers, and 422 minors to work more than three hours on school days and more than eight hours on non-school days.

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division determined that the business violated provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

WM Limited Partnership agreed to train managers and supervisors on child-labor laws and conduct payroll audits to monitor minors' work hours. The younger workers will also wear special shirts or hats to help management easily identify them.

"Employment standards for 14- and 15-year-olds ensure minors gain a positive work experience that does not interfere with their health, education and well-being," Mary O'Rourke, Wage and Hour district director, said in a statement.

She encouraged employers to contact her agency for information.

WM Limited paid $258,259 in civil penalties for all 53 of its Michigan restaurants.

For information about FLSA, call the Wage and Hours Division's helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243), or go here.