Age Requirements and Employment Law

Whether you are a young worker or you have concerns about your child’s employment, make sure you carefully go over various employment law issues that apply to workers under the age of 18. Unfortunately, some young workers’ rights are not respected, placing them in potentially dangerous situations and creating other hardships (such as fatigue due to an excessive workload combined with academic commitments).

It is also important to keep in mind that laws related to child labor are different in each state, so make sure you go over the laws that pertain to young workers in Ohio.

What is the Minimum Age for Employment?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states that minors cannot work if they are under the age of 14. However, these restrictions vary depending on the field a minor works in. Furthermore, there are restrictions with respect to the amount of hours workers under the age of 16 can work. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, these age requirements do not affect minors employed by their guardian or parent, in certain instances.

What are Some Restrictions for Young Workers?

In addition to a young worker’s age and their schedule, there are other restrictions in place to protect young people employed in different fields. For example, the FLSA prohibits various forms of hazardous work. Some examples of hazardous work include operating certain types of equipment, operating a vehicle and excavation. If you or your child have experienced workers’ rights violations, explore your options, such as filing a complaint or taking further action.