2: Michigan-based Forge Industrial Staffing 'crushed under the weight' of federal child labor probe

The American Legal Record Podcast

On this episode, we interview John O’Brien, editor and journalist for Legal Newsline about his recent story, “Company being crushed under weight of feds' child labor probe, despite no charges.”

Michigan company Forge Industrial Staffing is “in the crosshairs of a child labor investigation” and hopes “a federal court will help protect its reputation as clients flee, while noting a ‘whistleblower’ who kickstarted the probe lied about her age at least once,” reported Legal Newsline.

Following is a summary of this episode:

Investigation Triggered by NY Times Article: O’Brien discussed a New York Times article regarding the employment of underage workers in various industries that sparked an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor into Forge Industrial Staffing, a company based in Michigan and Indiana, which had no prior allegations of child labor.

Case Complexity and Misrepresentation: O’Brien said the case took a twist when it was revealed that one of the underage workers had falsified her age on documents. She initially worked for three days at a company placed by Forge, claiming she was 19, and later joined Forge directly in an administrative role, this time claiming a different age. This misrepresentation led to significant negative publicity for Forge, resulting in the loss of clients and revenue.

Legal and Political Implications: O’Brien discussed the legal aspects of the case, focusing on the actions of Julie Su, the acting U.S. Secretary of Labor, and what he said was her aggressive stance on labor issues. The episode explored the potential impact of the case on Forge and other businesses, highlighting the challenges companies face when dealing with government investigations and the potential for overreach.

Forge's Response and Defense: Forge argued against the relevancy of the U.S. Department of Labor's subpoena, which seeks to interview employees at the sites of Forge's clients. Forge contended that this is an overreach and irrelevant to the investigation, as they have made all employees available for interviews at Forge's offices.

Broader Implications for Businesses: The episode concluded with a discussion on the broader implications of the case for businesses, especially those relying on staffing agencies. The potential for federal investigations into numerous client sites is seen as a significant concern, highlighting the challenges businesses face in navigating legal and regulatory environments.