The Fair Labor Standards Act includes minors just like anyone else. Employers need to understand these laws thoroughly, but the problem is many of them don’t. Or they choose to violate them anyway, which means employment lawyers in NYC have to get involved. We’ve put together some of the basic child labor laws in New York to be aware of.
Age And Wage Requirements
Any child under age 14 is generally not allowed to work. Some exceptions might be delivering newspapers or agriculture work. Any child aged 14 or older can work, but there are restrictions based on whether school is in session and what their exact age is. And they must be paid at least the minimum wage in New York. A labor wage attorney sees employers try to get around this too often and the top law firms in NYC can plug up common loopholes.
Working Hours Restrictions For Minors
Employers must adhere to certain scheduling factors when hiring minors. For example, a child who is either 16 or 17:
- Can’t exceed four hours of work on a school night
- Can’t work more than six days a week
- Can’t work during school hours
- Can’t work more than 28 hours a week during the school year
- Can’t work more than 48 hours a week outside of the school year
These are just a few of the restrictions employers have when hiring minors. Employers must also print out a minor’s schedule and post it in a common area so all employees can see what their hours are for any given day.
What Type Of Work Can Minors Do?
At age 16 or 17, virtually all employment options are open for minors. However, restrictions are in place for children ages 14 and 15. This age group is limited to work like:
- Clerical jobs
- Yard work
- Retail jobs
- Kitchen work
- And more
Employers must confirm whether the job they are offering to a minor is in compliance with the child labor laws. Too many times employment lawyers in NYC have to crack down on employers for violating these laws.
Gordon & Gordon understands the child labor laws in New York inside and out. We have earned the reputation of being one of the top law firms in NYC because we aren’t afraid to handle major cases. Child labor laws often get violated intentionally or unintentionally. If something doesn’t seem right about how your child is being treated on the job, then speak up right away. Our attorneys are ready to provide a free consultation, so contact us at any time.