ASHEVILLE -- Federal authorities have fined the Biltmore Estate for hiring a non-United States citizen over a qualified applicant from the U.S.
The Ashville Citizen-Times reported Thursday that the estate that owns the massive, gilded-age mansion in western North Carolina violated federal labor laws.
The U.S. Department of Labor said Biltmore paid nearly $7,000 in back wages to an applicant for a cook position. The estate also spent more than $24,000 on a civil penalty.
Estate spokeswoman LeeAnn Donnelly said the hiring decision was the result of a "miscommunication" and that Biltmore "did not fully understand" the local applicant's desire for the entry-level cook position.
The 8,000-acre estate and mansion usually employees some 2,400 workers, depending on the season, and draws more than a million visitors a year.
