BOSTON, MA – Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced today that her office has issued citations totaling over $2 million against Northeast Foods LLC, the operator of numerous Burger King franchises across the state, for violations of state employment laws, including child labor and wage and hour regulations. The citations, totaling approximately $2,029,754, include restitution for unpaid wages and penalties.
Northeast Foods LLC, which operates dozens of Burger King locations, is accused of failing to pay minimum wage, making timely wage payments, and maintaining accurate employee payroll records between January 2022 and March 2023. The company is also charged with violating Massachusetts’ child labor laws by scheduling minors for work during prohibited hours and exceeding daily work limits for 16- and 17-year-old employees.
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) initiated the investigation after a worker at a Burger King location filed a complaint about unpaid wages. The investigation revealed that nearly 2,000 workers at Northeast Foods’ Burger King locations were impacted by these violations. The company had previously been cited for similar infractions in 2017, 2022, and 2019.
“Workplace laws exist to protect workers’ rights, and my office will continue to hold employers accountable for violating these protections, especially when it comes to safeguarding young workers,” said AG Campbell.
In a separate matter, AG Campbell’s office reached a settlement with Amish Parikh and Ashish Parikh, the New Jersey-based operators of 19 Popeyes franchise locations in Massachusetts. The settlement resolves allegations that the Parikhs violated child labor laws and the state’s Earned Sick Time Law. As part of the settlement, the AGO issued $212,516 in citations, including restitution for impacted workers and penalties.
The AGO alleges that the Popeyes franchise operators violated the Earned Sick Time Law by denying three employees the right to use sick time. Additionally, the operators are accused of scheduling minors for work during prohibited hours and exceeding the legal limits for daily and weekly working hours for young employees.
Both cases highlight the AGO’s ongoing efforts to enforce Massachusetts’ labor laws, which include requirements for minimum wage, timely wage payments, sick leave, and restrictions on child labor. Under Massachusetts law, minors aged 16 and 17 may not work more than nine hours per day, six days a week, or 48 hours per week.
“These cases are part of my administration’s broader efforts to protect workers—especially young workers—across the state,” said AG Campbell. “We will continue to ensure that employers follow the law and that workers are treated fairly and with respect.”
The AGO’s Fair Labor Division, which is responsible for enforcing wage and hour laws, child labor protections, and the Earned Sick Time Law, handled both of these investigations. The team was led by Assistant Attorney General Amy Goyer and Supervising Investigator Jennifer Pak in the Northeast Foods case, and Assistant Attorney General Drew Cahill and Investigator Christina Proietti in the Popeyes settlement.
AG Campbell’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights is also reflected in the AGO’s 2023 Labor Day Report, which highlighted the division’s efforts to secure over $31.5 million in restitution for unpaid wages and penalties in the past fiscal year. This includes more than $4 million in restitution related to child labor violations as part of her administration’s ongoing efforts to protect young workers.
The Attorney General’s Office continues to encourage workers who believe their rights have been violated to file complaints with the AGO’s Fair Labor Division.
For more information on child labor laws and workers’ rights, visit the AGO’s website.
