Personal Rights of Young Workers in the Workplace
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), teenagers are at a greater risk for injuries and death from workplace accidents due to their adolescent stage of physical, emotional, and social development. Teens lack the life experience that prevents adult workers from making some workplace mistakes. Employers should not hire teens without first considering how to protect them and how to treat them as equals with all adult workers.
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Safety Rights
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Like all other workers, teens have a right to a safe workplace. It is the responsibility of the employer, from the small business to the large corporation, to follow all OSHA standards and state- and local-safety regulations. Teens should not be made to fear for their job by being required to take on duties that are too complicated for their skill and developmental level. Teens should be given the training and safety equipment to perform their work safely.
Causes of Accidents
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OSHA reports that most teenage workplace injuries come from these sources: unsafe equipment, stressful conditions, inadequate safety training, inadequate supervision, dangerous work that is not permitted by law or intended for teens, being in a hurry, and substance use. The teenager can protect his or her right to a safe workplace by completing all required safety training and reading brochures, posters, fact sheets, and the warnings and instructions posted in work areas.
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Right to Medical Treatment
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Employers are legally required to protect workers through worker's compensation programs according to state regulations. Teens share this right. If a teen is injured on the job, he or she should immediately follow the employer's procedure for obtaining authorized medical treatment. In the area of worker's compensation and other areas of employment, teens are protected from discrimination in enforcing their legal rights.
Right to Work
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Teenagers have a right to work in areas of nonagricultural labor at the age of 14 according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). However, some occupations are prohibited for minors. In order to protect youth workers between the ages of 14 and 17, the FLSA also mandates how many hours youths can work when school is in session. Youths are permitted to work more hours during summer and school holidays.
Right to Know
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Teens have a right to know information that will help them perform their job better. According to the OSHA Fact Sheet for Young Workers, teens often hesitate to ask questions and they may not recognize dangers in the workplace. The employer should pay close attention to young worker performance and demonstrated knowledge of safety procedures. Even with the right information at their disposal, teens should not be permitted to operate machinery or perform other job tasks prohibited by law.
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