A Louisiana-based fast-food restaurant chain is under fire after it announced that it would be holding a summer camp that would teach kids how to be a Chickfil-A worker for $35 per session.
The camp, which would be held at a location in Hammond, was promoted on its Facebook page on June 5.
It stated that children aged 5 to 12 would get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the restaurant.
The restaurant provided a variety of perks to the participants, such as a kid’s meal and a T-shirt.
The promotion generated a lot of interest, and the store was able to add more slots after just 24 hours.
On June 7, the company noted that the sessions, which would be held from July 3 to 9, were already fully booked.
Many people criticized the restaurant’s decision to hold a summer camp that involved children working.
The controversy surrounding the promotion was very divisive. Many people criticized the restaurant for exploiting children.
Many people posted their thoughts on the restaurant’s Facebook page. One of the individuals who criticized the company stated that she was not a fan of capitalism.
Another critic noted that if the camp was not Christian, then everyone would be outraged by how the parents were forced to pay for the exploitation of their kids.
Some of the individuals who criticized the company questioned the camp’s operators’ credentials and experience when it came to supervising children.
Rhiannon Thornburg-Vermande noted that the restaurant workers might not have the necessary licenses to handle small kids.
She also wondered how they would be able to keep the kids safe in the kitchen.
It was also reportedly unsafe for children to be alone in a fast-food establishment with strangers.
Some people even tagged the U.S. Labor Department in their posts.
Others supported the idea of letting kids learn about the importance of work ethic and responsibility.
They noted that they often go to local establishments for their food.
In her post, Haley Hernandez Maskew commended the Hammond branch of Chick-fil-A for offering a summer camp that would teach kids about responsibility and work ethic.
She also praised the restaurant for having a good time while doing so.
My daughter is interested in going to the camp, so I will ask her if she wants to join.
Monica Fontenot wished she had heard about the camp earlier, as her son would have loved to participate.
She assured everyone that the kids would not be forced into participating.
In her post, she thanked Chick-fil-As for its continuous support of the community.
She noted that she always receives free food and rewards due to the company’s involvement.
