Labor Laws for Teens
While millions of teens are gainfully employed in part-time and summer capacities, there are many state and federal laws that dictate when they can work and what they can do. These laws gradually introduce more freedom in employment as the child ages.
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Children 13 and Younger
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In most instances, a child has to be 14 years old or older before beginning employment. Strict labor laws prohibit children 13 and younger from working in most capacities. This prevents them from being overworked or placed in hazardous situations.
However, children are allowed limited work experiences in newspaper delivery and babysitting. They can work in a business or farm that is owned or operated by their parents. They can also work as actors in motion pictures, television, and theater or radio performances.
Hour Restrictions (14+)
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Teenagers can only work certain hours without violating labor laws. While individual states can maintain stricter rules than the federal government, there are many federal restrictions regarding teens who are 14 or 15 years old.
The teenagers in this age bracket can only work between the hours of seven in the morning and seven in the evening. The only exception to this occurs between June 1 and Labor Day, when teenagers are allowed to work until nine in the evening. They are not permitted to work during school hours.
Further restrictions dictate that they cannot work more than three hours on a school day, with a limit of 18 hours in a school week. They cannot work longer than eight hours on a non-school day or 40 hours in a non-school week.
The exception to this rule is for individuals who are enrolled in an approved Work Experience or Career Exploration Program. These youth may work up to 23 hours during school weeks and up to three hours on school days---even during school hours.
16-year-olds, however, are free to work any length of time on any given day in any non-hazardous position.
Job Restrictions (14+)
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There are different occupational allowances depending on the teenager's age. Thresholds at the child's 14th and 16th birthdays dictate what kind of positions they can work in.
At 14, teens can be employed in an office, store, restaurant, movie theater, amusement park, or gas station, although the specifically allowed positions in these businesses are limited. These restrictions may be slightly different depending on the state in which the child resides. Under no circumstances are they allowed to work in positions requiring them to drive or operate machinery or any mining or manufacturing positions.
At 16, teenagers can be employed in any occupation that has not been declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. The list of hazardous positions can be found on the U.S. Department of Labor's website.
Agriculture Laws
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Labor laws in regard to agricultural capacities vary greatly from the laws governing non-agriculture positions.
Children younger than age 12 are permitted to work on designated "small farms." These farms are not required to pay the federal minimum wage and do not use more than 500 days of agricultural labor in a three-month period. These children can only work in non-hazardous jobs, only when school is not in session, and only with parental permission.
Youth who are 12 or 13 years old can work on a farm with written parental consent or if a parent works on the same farm. They can only work when school is not in session and in non-hazardous capacities.
Teenagers who are 14 or 15 years old can work on any farm, but are still required to work in non-hazardous jobs when school is not in session.
After turning 16, however, a teenager can work on any day, for any number of hours and in any agricultural capacity.
Exemptions
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There are a few exceptions to federal child labor laws. However, these can be restricted by individual state legislation.
Jobs that do not fall within the scope of federal child labor laws include newspaper delivery, babysitting, acting, and working within a business or farm owned or operated by parents as long as the business does not involve hazardous occupations, as determined by the Department of Labor. Similarly, odd jobs like mowing lawns are generally not addressed by labor laws.
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