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ARTICLE · 04 MAY 2017

Hiring Under-18 Workers This Summer?

Fisher Phillips LLP
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If you plan to employ anyone under 18 years old for the summer, you should be thoroughly familiar with the child-labor limitations prescribed under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

United StatesEmployment and HR
John Thompson
John Thompson
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If you plan to employ anyone under 18 years old for the summer, you should be thoroughly familiar with the child-labor limitations prescribed under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. 

The U.S. Department of Labor enforces these labyrinthine rules strictly and aggressively.  Don't count on good intentions to save the day if you get it wrong.

Age-Based Restrictions

The applicable limitations depend in part upon the person's age.  In non-agricultural work, the FLSA allows the employment of minors who are at least 16 in any activity not falling within one of USDOL's 17 "Hazardous Occupations" orders (one of which prohibits driving a motor-vehicle on any public road or highway under most circumstances).  The rules do not limit a 16- or 17-year-old's times or hours of work.

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