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www.dol.gov/compliance
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| November 4, 2008 DOL Home > Compliance Assistance > By Audience > Youth in the Workplace |  |
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Youth in the Workplace
Once a youth turns 18 years of age, there are no special federal rules on how or when they can be employed. However for youth under 18, there are specific rules on the wages they may be paid, the occupations and industries in which they are allowed to work, and the hours they may work. All states also have child labor standards. When federal and state standards are different, the rules that provide the most protection to young workers apply. The child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) are administered and enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Standards Administration's Wage and Hour Division (WHD). The WHD's YouthRules! Web site provides information and resources that help promote positive and safe work experiences for young workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also offers resources for young workers, their employers, and parents to help keep them safe at work. These resources include e-tools on the safe employment of youth in restaurants and in agriculture. See also Wages and Hours for Youth. Wages: The federal minimum wage for covered, nonexempt employees is $5.85 per hour effective July 24, 2007; $6.55 per hour effective July 24, 2008; and $7.25 per hour effective July 24, 2009. The FLSA, which sets the minimum wage, provides for the employment of certain individuals at wage rates below the minimum wage. These individuals include student-learners (vocational education students), as well as full-time students employed by retail or service establishments, agriculture, or institutions of higher education. In addition, a special minimum wage of $4.25 per hour applies to employees under the age of 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment with an employer. After 90 days, FLSA requires employers to pay the full federal minimum wage. Many states also have minimum wage laws. In cases where an employee is subject to both the state and federal minimum wage laws, the employee is entitled to the higher of the two minimum wages. Hours, Occupations, and Safety: Child labor rules prohibit employment in certain hazardous occupations or industries for workers under the age of 18. There are also restrictions on how many hours in a day or week, or what hours in the day youth under 16 can work. These rules, particularly the occupations declared to be too hazardous for youth, are quite different for agricultural and non-agricultural employment. COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE MATERIALS
Every covered employer must keep certain records for each non-exempt worker. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires no particular form for the records, but does require that the records include certain identifying information about the employee and data about the hours worked and the wages earned. For a listing of the basic records that an employer must maintain, see the FLSA recordkeeping fact sheet. Prior to paying an employee the subminimum wage, as allowed under certain provisions of the FLSA, employers may have to apply for a certificate from the U. S. Department of Labor. See the form instructions page for additional information.
APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS
*Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Labor's Confidentiality Protocol for Compliance Assistance Inquiries, information provided by a telephone caller will be kept confidential within the bounds of the law. Compliance assistance inquiries will not trigger an inspection, audit, investigation, etc. |
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