Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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CHICAGO -- Representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will visit fast-food restaurants in Kane County during the week of Feb. 24 to educate employers about the federal law that applies to youth they employ.

"Education is essential to the future success of teens. This initiative will ensure that youths are employed during hours that do not interfere with their first priority - their school studies," said Dennis McInerney, district director of the Wage and Hour Division in Chicago. "We will work with employers to ensure that teens have safe and rewarding work experiences."

The initiative is part of YouthRules!, a national campaign by the Labor Department to educate young workers, parents and employers about the hours young people can work and jobs they can do to ensure safe work experiences.

Representatives of the Wage and Hour Division will explain the requirements of federal child labor regulations to employers and provide printed materials to help them comply with workplace protections. Later this year, the division's staff will investigate several fast-food restaurants at random to determine violation trends and to help focus future compliance assistance efforts.

The Fair Labor Standards Act governs the employment of minors less than 18 years of age. The regulations prohibit minors to operate hazardous machinery such as meat slicing and grinding machines, certain power-driven bakery machines, and commercial mixers. Minors under 16 may not be employed in any baking occupations and some cooking occupations.

Minors under 17 may not drive on public roadways as part of their job. Seventeen-year-olds who meet certain specific requirements may drive automobiles and trucks that do not exceed 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. However, such minors are prohibited from making time-sensitive trips such as pizza deliveries.

Hours are restricted for 14 and 15-year-old workers who are employed in nonagricultural jobs. Minors may not work during school hours, before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). They may not work more than three hours on a school day or more than 18 hours during weeks when school is in session. They may work a maximum of eight hours on non-school days and up to 40 hours on during weeks when school is not in session.

For further information on the provisions that apply to youth employment, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or contact the Wage and Hour Division in Chicago at (312) 596-7230. Information is also available on the Internet at www.dol.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.