When your teenager wants to work, the number of hours your teenager can work, and how late your teen can be on shift will depend on their age, the type of work being done, and the state you live in. The Department of Labor oversees child labor laws, which restrict the types of jobs teenagers can have based on how dangerous the job is determined to be. In general, a teenager who is 14 or 15 can work less hours, while a teenager who is 16 will have less restrictions. 

Check with the Place of Employment

If your teenager has secured a job at a fast food restaurant, the employer will be well informed as to the rules governing the employment of your young person. You may need to secure a work permit for your teenager, depending on the state that you live in. The work permit protects the employer from hiring an individual that is too young to work, so if your teenager needs a permit, the employer isn't going to let them work until they have one on file. Work permits are created by your child's school district, and can be obtained at the main office of the district. 

When the Employment is Agricultural

According to federal law, parents who own or operate a farm can employ their own children of any age, for any amount of hours with no time restrictions. Laws that place restrictions on how many hours a child of a farm owner can work will vary from state to state. When your child wants to work on a farm that is not owned by you, similar laws apply as with any other employment your child can secure.

The Hours Your Teenager Can Work

Work hours vary by age, by the time of year it is, whether school is in session, or if it is the weekend. State laws may be more restrictive, but the minimal laws for the hours a teenager 14 or 15 years old can work include:

• only 3 hours if it is a school day.
• 18 total hours in one school week, including weekends.
• 8 hours on a day when school is not in session.
• 40 hours during a week when there is no school, as long as the hours worked are between 7 AM and 7 PM. From the first day of June until Labor Day, the hours worked can be until 9 PM.

For more information, talk to a professional like Vandeventer Black LLP.