At least 1,656 Wisconsin child labor violations allegedly amassed by Chicago-based Burger King franchise operator

A Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development audit of child labor violations against the operator of over 100 Burger King franchises in Wisconsin — including one in Rhinelander — is under administrative review, pushing back a deadline to pay more than $1 million for what state officials say is “the largest determination of child labor and wage payment violations in modern Wisconsin history.”

Violations were found at all but one of Chicago-based Cave Enterprises Operations LLC’s Wisconsin Burger King locations that employ minors, including Rhinelander.

At least 1,656 alleged violations, affecting over 600 kids aged 14-17, came to light in the DWD’s investigation of Cave Enterprises’ employment of 1,393 minors at its Burger King franchises in the state from January 2023 to January 2025. 

That investigation was prompted by the DWD’s Equal Rights Division receiving 33 child labor and wage complaints regarding Cave’s Wisconsin Burger King locations between 2020 and 2023.

In its determination issued Feb. 5, the DWD cited Cave Enterprises for unlawfully employing 593 minors under age 16 who started work without a valid child labor permit, 627 minors who worked at least one shift of six hours or more without a meal break, 67 minors age 16 or 17 who worked at least one shift of 10 or more hours without receiving overtime pay, and 369 minors with hours of work violations.

Cave Enterprises was instructed to immediately change its business practices to come into compliance with state child labor laws and related regulations, and to pay $237,437.29 ($3,498.33 in unpaid wages, $1,994.13 in unpaid overtime wages, and $231,944.83 in penalty wages) to affected minors and a penalty of $828,000 — $500 for each of the 1,656 violations — to the DWD. 

An administrative review of the child labor audit was subsequently requested, with Cave Enterprises given until March 11 to submit additional information. 

“Equal Rights Division will review any new information submitted,” the DWD’s communications office  told The River News. “Absent any change as a result of that review, Cave Enterprises will have 20 days to pay the affected employees.”

Cave Enterprises currently operates a total of 178 Burger King franchises: 28 in Illinois, one in Indiana, four in Iowa, eight in Michigan, 13 in Minnesota, one in Nebraska, 22 in South Dakota, and 101 in Wisconsin.

The River News’ calls and email to Cave Enterprises seeking comment were not returned.

Ardith Carlton may be reached at [email protected].