Summer is almost here which means school is almost out. The youth will soon be on their job search for the summer, if they are not already. There are a few items in particular that you should brush up on if you will be hiring minors.
Finer points of the FLSA
The Department of Labor is the sole federal agency that monitors child labor and enforces child labor laws. The most sweeping federal law that restricts the employment and abuse of child workers is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The WHD handles enforcement of the FLSA’s child labor provisions.
The FLSA restricts the hours that children under 16 years of age can work and lists hazardous occupations too dangerous for young workers to perform. Examples include jobs involving the operation of power-driven woodworking machines, and work that involves exposure to radioactive substances and ionizing radiators.
The FLSA allows children 14 to 15 years old to work outside of school hours in various manufacturing, non-mining, non-hazardous jobs under certain conditions. Permissible work hours for 14- and 15-year-olds are:
- Three hours on a school day,
- 18 hours in a school week,
- Eight hours on a non-school day,
- 40 hours in a non-school week, and
- Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.*
*From June 1 through Labor Day, nighttime work hours are extended to 9 p.m.
Just one example
News Release No. 22-546-DEN reveals the results of three specific investigations. In them, the WHD found that employers had allowed minors to operate dangerous machinery. Also, minors were allowed to work beyond the time permitted, during school hours, more than three hours on a school night and more than 18 hours a workweek.
In one case, a restaurant allowed minors to operate or assist in operating a trash compactor and a manual fryer, which are prohibited tasks for 14- and 15-year-old workers. The employer also allowed minors to work:
- More than three hours on a school day,
- More than 18 hours in a school week,
- Past 7 p.m. from Labor Day through May 31,
- Past 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, and
- More than eight hours on a non-school day.
The WHD assessed the business $17,159 in civil money penalties.
Letter of the law
In the news release, WHD Director Kevin Hunt states, “Early employment opportunities are meant to be valuable and safe learning experiences for young people and should never put them at risk of harm. Employers who fail to keep minor-aged workers safe and follow child labor regulations may struggle to find the young people they need to operate their businesses.”
What’s more, as the case above demonstrates, companies can incur substantial financial penalties for failing to follow the letter of the law. Consult an employment attorney for further details on the FLSA. Your Rudler, PSC advisor can help you measure and manage your hiring and payroll costs. Reach out at 859-331-1717.
RUDLER, PSC CPAs and Business Advisors
This week's Rudler Review is presented by Kendra Anderson, Staff Accountant and Gretchen Russell, Manager.
If you would like to discuss your particular situation, contact Kendra and Gretchen at 859-331-1717.
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