Teen Rights: Employment Cheat Sheet
- juniorjusticesllc
- May 9, 2024
- 2 min read
Since 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor has seen an 88% increase in children being exploited in the workforce. Unfortunately, as teenagers, our want to have a job can make us easy targets in the workplace, especially if we don't have a complete understanding of our rights. However, by learning the legal regulations we can not only stand up for ourselves but also protect ourselves from being taken advantage of. So, if you’re a teenager looking to secure your first job or navigate the workplace, understanding these legal regulations is necessary for your protection.
Minimum Wage Laws:
Each state has a fixed minimum hourly pay. Since minimum wage varies by state, please refer to the link below to find the minimum wage in your state.
Maximum Hours Regulation:
In addition to minimum wage laws, the laws that control the maximum hours a teen can work are important in protecting teenage workers from being taken advantage of. These regulations limit the number of hours teens can work based on a variety of reasons. These reasons include age, whether school is in session, and the state you reside in, etc. For additional information please check on your official state website.
Bullying/Discrimination Prevention:
Bullying and discrimination at work are other issues that teenagers might experience, causing a risk to their mental health. Equal employment opportunity laws are there to address these issues by stopping discrimination based on a lot of reasons. These reasons include race, religion, sex, national origin, age, or genetic information. Additionally, 32 states have introduced the Healthy Workplace Bill (HWI). Its main goal is to correct and prevent abusive work environments. Listed below are the states that have introduced the HWI:
California
Connecticut
Florida
Hawaii
Illinois
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Maine
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
North Dakota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
Nevada
New York
Oregon
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
West Virginia
Safety And Health Regulations:
Ensuring safety in the workforce is necessary to prevent teenage workers from accidents or injuries. Legal regulations governing safety and health such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, set forth guidelines for employers to provide a safe work environment. Additionally, certain states restrict teens from working jobs that may be seen as dangerous. This includes working on construction sites, working in boiler rooms, operating motor vehicles, roofing, and warehousing, etc. Find the rest of the restrictions here.
Whether securing your first job or navigating the workplace, understanding these legal regulations is imperative for your protection. Minimum wage laws ensure fair compensation, while maximum hours regulations protect against overwork. Bullying and discrimination prevention measures, alongside safety and health regulations, further safeguard teenage workers. By empowering yourself with this knowledge, we can navigate the workforce with confidence and resilience, ensuring our rights and mental health are upheld.
Sources:
Comments