ORLANDO, Fla. – The owners of Panera Bread cafes in Central Florida face hefty fines after state officials accused them of violating child labor rules, according to court documents obtained by News 6 on Thursday.
The lawsuit says that between 2021 and 2023, these Panera Bread cafes — around 15 of which operate in the Orlando area — employed around 240 minors under the age of 16.
In the lawsuit, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori claimed that the practice constituted “oppressive child labor,” specifically as it applies to their working hours…