Hour Limitations
There are both state and federal child labor laws regulating the hour limitations of minors. Employers must observe the stricter provisions when the laws are different. The application of the stricter portion of both federal and state law is provided below.
Minors 14 and 15:
When public school is in session, minors may work a maximum of 3 hours per day on school days and up to 8 hours per day on Saturday, 8 hours on Sunday and 8 hours on non-school days, when a school day does not follow. Remember these daily times are options as this age group is able to work only 15 hours per week (seven day period). They may work between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. but may not work during public school hours.
When school is not in session, June 1st through Labor Day, 14 and 15 year old minors may work up to 8 hours each day and 40 hours per week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Minors 16 and 17:
When public school is in session, minors 16 & 17 may not work before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m. or for more than 8 hours per day, when school is scheduled the following day, nor during the hours that school is in session. These hour limitations do not apply on non-school days when a school day does not follow, during non-school weeks, and during summer vacation.
When school does not follow the next day, such as Friday, Saturday, and other days that precede a holiday, minors 16 and 17 may work until their shift is completed. Example: A minor begins work on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and the shift ends at 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. This is not considered a violation of the regulation that minors may not work before 6:30 a.m. when school is scheduled the following day, because the minor is completing his Saturday shift, and not beginning a work shift before 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.
These teens may work no more than 30 hours per week when school is in session. However, during the Summer vacation and non-school weeks they may work unlimited hours.
Minors are NOT permitted to work during normal school hours unless they are enrolled in a school-to-work experience program, career education or other program declared exempt by the state, or have received a partial waiver.
Breaks:
Minors are not permitted to work more than four hours without a 30-minute, uninterrupted meal break. This applies throughout the year.
Days:
Minors are not permitted to work more than six consecutive days in one week. This applies throughout the year.
