Summer Jobs – Don’t be Exploited

Summer vacation is around the corner, and many young people are lining up summer jobs this month. As you would think, the US Department of Labor has very specific rules concerning youth employment. Parents need to be very careful that their kids aren’t being exploited out there in the workforce, and may want to check with an employment lawyer to make sure that all of the rules concerning youth employment are being obeyed by the employers.

First– watch out for jobs that are more dangerous than you may think.

Here are a few of the federal government’s rules, from a DOL handout:

14- and 15-Year-Olds Can Work:

Outside school hours
After 7 a.m. and until 7 p.m. (hours are extended to 9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day)

Up to 3 hours on a school day
Up to 18 hours in a school week
Up to 8 hours on a non-school day
Up to 40 hours in a non-school week
Jobs Teens Can Perform

Teens 13 or younger can baby-sit, deliver newspapers, or work as an actor or performer.

14- and 15-year-olds may work in a variety of jobs including those located in offices, grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, amusement parks, baseball parks or gasoline service stations. However, they are prohibited from working in jobs declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor.

16- and 17-year-olds can work in any job that hasn’t been declared hazardous. There are 17 hazardous jobs young workers under the age of 18 are prohibited from doing. Some of these jobs include mining, meat packing or processing, using power-driven bakery machines or paper-product machines, roofing, and excavation operations. Most driving is also prohibited.

Once a youth reaches 18 years of age, he or she is no longer subject to the Federal youth employment laws.

Different rules apply to youth employed in agriculture. Different states, including Georgia, may also have different laws. If you have any questions, contact the employment lawyers at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP.