A Popular Idaho Ice Cream Shop is in Trouble For Putting Kids in Danger

An Idaho ice cream shop known for their cool treats is in hot water after investigations found they had placed dozens of kids in dangerous situations by having them perform tasks they weren’t qualified to do, worked them longer than legally allowed, and took tips that were meant for the workers.

The investigation and information released today, December 12th, lists 4 Stella’s Ice Cream locations among those facing penalties. Stores in Boise, Nampa, Caldwell, and Eagle face more than $321,000 in civil penalties. Locations in Twin Falls, Meridian, and Texas were not named in the news release.

Managers Illegally Took Worker Tips at an Idaho Ice Cream Shop

The news release came from the Department of Labor and states that the 4 locations had young kids work longer hours than allowed by law and ‘assigned children dangerous tasks and illegally shared tips with managers’.

This Idaho Ice Cream Shop Endangered Dozens of Children

In the news release they go into specifics of what dangerous tasks the kids were allowed and asked to do, stating the Stella’s locations:

employed children to operate industrial mixers, drive a delivery van, and work during times forbidden by law. Specifically, the division found the employer regularly employed workers between the ages of 14 and 15 to work past 10:30 p.m.

According to federal law, kids under the age of 16 can’t work more than 18 hours per week when school is in session and can’t work past 7PM, except for a few weeks in the year where the time is extended to 9PM.

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The investigation also found that managers and supervisors had taken money meant to be tips for the workers. Federal regulations do not allow managers or supervisors to be part of tip pools. 208 workers were affected by the tips stealing and the finding led to the recovery of nearly $80,000 in back wages and damages for the workers.