It’s back to school time, ushering in a busy season for many hospitality and retail businesses and placing more restrictions on when certain teenagers can work. Since many teenagers have more flexibility during breaks, it’s important for employers to review and potentially revise work schedules for minors that stay onboard after summer. Here’s everything you need to know about what federal youth labor rules say, potential changes coming from the Trump administration, as well as state law considerations to help you stay compliant throughout the year.
Who is Allowed to Work and When?
Federal child labor restrictions apply based on the age of the worker, with more flexibility as they get older. While youth under 16 face the most restrictions, all minors are completely banned from doing certain tasks under the DOL’s “Hazardous Occupations Orders.”
For non-agricultural jobs, when it comes to the hours minors can be on the clock:
16- and 17-year-olds can work for unlimited hours in any occupation other than those deemed hazardous.
14- and 15-year-olds can work outside of school hours in non-manufacturing and non-hazardous jobs. They also have specific work time limits:
Dive Brief: Honeywell Aerospace recently reached a $2.04 million settlement with the Justice Department to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with cybersecurity requirements under a Dep...