Do's and Don'ts for Working Teens

By Kristi Vaughan

As sure as spring turns to summer or adolescents become consuming teens, the subject of jobs is likely to be a big one around the family dinner table. If your teen is thinking about getting a job - or you are thinking about encouraging your teen in that direction - there are a few do's and don'ts you'll want to keep in mind.

Labor laws rule

The kind of job your child can do and the hours he, or she, can work, are not just matters of personal preference. Child labor laws, on the state and federal levels, have been established to protect children under 18 years-old from the Dickensian conditions of many decades ago.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor and its "Youth Rules" program, these restrictions include:

Hours

  • The maximum number of hours a 14- or 15-year-old can work during a school week is 18
  • The maximum number of hours a 14- or 15-year-old can work during a non-school week is 40
  • Workers 15 years old and younger can work no more than 3 hours in a school day and 8 hours on a non-school day
  • Workers 15 years old and younger cannot work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. except during the summer when they can work until 9 p.m.

Hazardous jobs

Youth under 18 years old cannot work in any of 17 jobs the federal Secretary of Labor has declared hazardous jobs. These include:

  • Mining
  • Meat packing/processing
  • Using power-driven bakery or paper product machines
  • Roofing
  • Excavation
  • Most jobs involving driving
  • Logging operations
  • Exposure to radioactive substances
  • Manufacture of brick
  • Operation of chain saws, band saws and guillotine shears
  • Wrecking and demolition

Additionally, with certain exceptions, children under the age of 16 cannot be employed in agricultural areas. They can, however, work in jobs in offices, retail stores, movie theaters, restaurants, gasoline service stations and amusement parks.

Certificate of age

Youth workers between 14 and 16-years-old additionally must have a certificate of age on file with the employer. This certificate often is referred to as "working papers." Check with your state Department of Labor to see where your child can obtain this certificate.





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