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Writer's pictureangieavardturner

Legal Reminders and Tips when Employing Minors

Getting a first job is an exciting and important rite of passage for teens in America. After all, everyone needs some exaggerated job stories to tell their kids and grandkids in later years! Your business may have the perfect opening for teenagers on summer break or throughout the school year. But there are special rules to understand when employing minors.


At Angie Avard Turner Law, LLC, I help entrepreneurs navigate the legal jungle of owning a business. I can work with you to choose a business structure, create contracts, and protect the business you build. Reserve your time to talk to get the ball rolling.


FLSA: The Fair Labor Standards Act

Good help is hard to find, so expanding your applicant pool to applicants under 18 can be an excellent way to fill those positions. But there are rules employers must follow to be legally compliant. Let’s examine some rules and tips around employing minors.


The federal government created the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to help guard workers. This act specifically outlines rules to protect children and ensure that employment doesn’t hinder their education.


Employing minors can be a great way to staff your business, but be sure you do it legally and safely.

The FLSA rules represent the minimum acceptable terms when employing minors, but many states have additional restrictions. No state law can reduce the minimums in the federal law, so the higher standard always applies. For instance, the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Many states have enacted a higher minimum wage, but no state can decrease that amount.


Likewise, states cannot allow 14-year-olds to work more than three hours on a school day because that is a federal restriction. They can, however, reduce that limit to one or two hours. They can also outlaw hiring that age group entirely, so check with your state for additional restrictions.


Employing Minors Under the Age of 16

In most cases, federal law requires employees to be at least 14 years old. Fourteen- and 15-year-olds can work under federal statutes, but there are limits on their work hours.


Minors in this age range can work up to three hours per day or 18 hours per week when school is in session. Those work hours need to fall between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm.


Employers must pay attention to the number of hours teen employees work each day and week.

Restrictions shift a bit when school is out, such as during winter and summer vacations. Between June 1st and Labor Day, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to eight hours per day and 40 hours per week. The time frame also extends to 9:00 pm during those periods.


There are also restrictions on the types of work children under age 16 can legally do. Federal law prohibits employers from allowing them to work in hazardous occupations. These limits include:

  • Working with many kinds of machinery, such as tractors and forklifts

  • Working on ladders

  • Working with toxic chemicals

  • Driving a vehicle to transport passengers

  • Mining

  • Handling explosives

Employers always need to keep the safety of their employees in mind, but it is imperative with younger workers.


Employing 16- and 17-Year-Olds

The FLSA does not restrict the total hours a 16- or 17-year-old can work, regardless of whether school is in session. Kids in this age group can clock 44 hours per week.


For the most part, workers in this age range are also restricted from work that the Secretary of Labor deems hazardous. There is an exception for some students and apprentices when enrolled in an approved training program.


The labor department deems some jobs as too hazardous for minor employees. There are a few exceptions for apprenticeship programs.

Wages for Younger Workers

The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25, but companies can hire workers under the age of 20 at a training wage of $4.25 per hour for the first consecutive 90 days of working for a new employer.


Keep in mind that your state may have instituted a higher training wage. For example, in Minnesota, the training wage is $8.42 per hour. As with the standard minimum wage, you need to pay the higher amount.


Agricultural Jobs

The FLSA provides some exceptions for agricultural work. Children up to age 15 are allowed to work any time outside of typical school hours. This exception is true regardless of what type of school the child attends - public, home, or no school. After they turn 16, children may work on a farm without any school-time restrictions.


Children age 15 and under may not operate hazardous machinery as part of their employment. They also may not undertake clearly dangerous tasks, such as being in a pen with a bull or stud horse. But, unlike in other occupations, hazard restrictions lift for farm workers once the person is 16 years old.


Agricultural jobs have different parameters for workers under age 18.

Federal minimum and training wages apply to farm work. If the employer pays a piece rate, such as fifty cents per plucked chicken, the average compensation must meet the minimum wage.


Tips for Employers When Hiring Minors

Understanding some of the legal rules around employing minors is crucial to keeping children safe and your business protected. If you plan to hire children to work in your company, consider these practical tips:


1. Keep an eye on them, at least for a while.

The 15- or 16-year-old you hire probably has little or no experience in the workplace. They will need extra supervision and patience while learning the job details. Be prepared to over-explain and over-instruct to ensure they understand their tasks and responsibilities.


2. Expect schedule conflicts.

Most teenagers are involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. Work with your teen employees to make sure their obligations don’t overlap and be crystal clear with them about how to handle the following:

  • Requesting time off

  • Switching shifts with other workers

  • Calling in sick


When you hire teens, be prepared to work around their schedules.

A first job is often a teen’s first chance to manage their own schedules. They’ll learn about planning around basketball games and studying for tests but expect a few hiccups in the first weeks of employment.


3. Closely track their total hours worked.

If you choose to hire a person younger than 16, keep track of their daily and weekly hours. Also, make sure the employee understands the restrictions so they don’t accidentally pick up an extra shift that could send their hourly totals above the maximum.


4. Be cautious with their work assignments.

There are many jobs that teens can do, but some tasks are off-limits. Review the rules to ensure a minor employee isn’t doing something they shouldn’t. For example, a 16-year-old may have a driver’s license, but that doesn’t mean you can send them to run errands in a company car.


5. Remind them to ask questions.

First jobs can feel really overwhelming to young people. Many of us are too far removed from that experience to remember it! Remind your workers that they can ask questions when needed if they are ever unsure of their tasks. A supported employee is a happier employee, regardless of their age.


With proper training and support, minor employees are a great asset.

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With offices in Pelham, Atlanta, and St. Simons Island, GA, I serve clients around the state and nationwide. Reserve your time today to ensure you have all the protection your business needs.


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