According to investigations conducted by ABC News, HelloFresh a meal-kit company illegally employed migrant teenagers at a facility in Aurora, IL. According to the program aired by ABC News, the company used an agency, Midway Staffing to recruit workers. In response to the probe that now involves the Department of Labor, HelloFresh noted “The company is deeply troubled over the allegations made against the former temporary staffing agency.” The statement continued, “As soon as we learned of these allegations we immediately terminated the relationship.” The company maintains it has strict protocols to ensure ethical business practices.”
Surely companies cannot relinquish their legal responsibilities by using third-party employment agencies. A company manager or shift supervisor walking through a plant should be able to discern that employees may be underage and initiate appropriate investigations.
The self-serving statement by HelloFresh are reminiscent of Captain Louis Renault in Casablanca commenting on illicit activities in a back room at Rick’s Café, he averred “I am shocked, shocked, to find that gambling is going on here! This establishment is closed. Please deliver my winnings to my office.”
Midway Staffing is apparently cooperating with the investigation and has provided the Labor Department with payroll, time and personnel data. This is no concession since the data is subject to discovery by the Department of Labor.
It remains to be seen whether the allegations by ABC News are valid and if so wh
ether appropriate action will be taken by the Department of Labor. ABC News has a history of hyping or mischaracterizing alleged situations relating to food. In 2012 a documentary described Lean Finely Textured Beef as ‘pink slime.’ The resulting adverse publicity caused the manufacturer Beef Products Inc. to lose $500 million in sales and to close three plants laying off 700 workers. ABC settled for an undisclosed amount in 2017 after the plaintiff’s case was presented in a South Dakota court.