As the summer arrives, many employers hire students who are out of school on summer break. The law is very specific as to what jobs can and cannot be held by children.
Young workers can perform only certain jobs, and the hours they can work are limited. States impose restrictions in addition to those imposed by the federal government, and employers must follow both rules. There are exceptions to the rules for agricultural employment.
The rules apply based on age.
- Under 14. Kids under 14 may perform the following jobs-
- Deliver newspapers;
- Babysit on a casual basis;
- Work as an actor or performer in movies, television, radio, or theater;
- Work as a homeworker gathering evergreens and making evergreen wreaths; or
- Work for a business owned by a child's parents as long as the business is not in mining, manufacturing, or one of 17 hazardous occupations
- Age 14 or 15. Kids this age must work no more than 8 hours per day/40 hours per week when school is not in session. Work must be between the hours of 7 am to 9 pm from June 1st through Labor Day. Kids age 14 or 15 may perform the following jobs-
- Retail occupations;
- Intellectual or creative work (computer programming, teaching tutoring, etc.);
- Errands or delivery work;
- Clean-up and yard work (no power-driven motors or other power equipment);
- Work in connection with cars and trucks such as pumping gas or washing cars;
- Some kitchen and food service work;
- Cleaning, wrapping, and stocking fruits and vegetables, but not near a freezer or meat cooler;
- Loading or unloading objects;
- Limited tasks in sawmills and woodshops; or
- Limited lifeguard duties (age 15).
- Age 16 or 17. Kids this age may work unlimited hours in any job that has not been declared hazardous by the U.S. Secretary of Labor.
- Age 18 or older. There are no restrictions on hours or jobs that can be performed by children age 18 or older.
Employers should understand both federal and state restrictions on employing children before extending a job offer to a child this summer.
