- If she is over age 14, she is old enough to work in most states.teenager image by Alta.C from Fotolia.com
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which includes child and youth labor laws. These regulations specify the minimum age at which a child may work, as well as the hours and jobs they may perform. Many states have youth labor laws that are even more stringent than FLSA's. In this case, the higher minimum standard is the governing law. - According to FLSA, the minimum age of employees in most endeavors is 14 years. However, there are some jobs for which children of any age can be compensated. These include delivering newspapers, performing in arts productions, working in family-owned, non-hazardous businesses, babysitting and performing household chores in a private residence. Youths between 14 and 16 years old can work at any non-manufacturing, non-mining or non-hazardous job. Employees over age 16 are restricted only to any non-hazardous job. After age 18, there are no laws governing what type of work may be performed.
In most cases, a work permit is not required for employees of any age. Some states do issue work permits, and either the state or the Department of Labor can issue permits if an employer requires them. - The federal minimum wage applies to all positions that fall under the federal minimum wage coverage, including those held by young people. However, employers are allowed to compensate employees under age 20 with a special minimum wage of $4.25 per hour for the first 90 days of employment. After this trial period, employers are required to pay the federal minimum wage. According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, effective July 24, 2009.
- Youths between the ages of 14 and 15 cannot work during school hours. During the school year, they cannot work more than three hours per day. These hours must be scheduled between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Young people cannot work more than 18 hours per week. From June 1 through Labor Day, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to eight hours per day, up to 40 hours per week. They can be scheduled for hours between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
These regulations do not apply to students enrolled in an approved work-study program. In addition, FLSA does not govern the number of work hours or times of the day for employees who are 16 and older. Be aware that many states limit this on a local level, so be sure to check and carefully read your state's laws.
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