Hiring minors this summer?

Looking to hire help for the summer and are wondering what are the laws for hiring employees under the age of 18?

Things to consider when hiring a minor!
 
When hiring a minor, keep in mind that their exact age during employment is very important.
 Let’s look at the Pennsylvania State Laws for hiring a 15 year-old vs a 16 year-old.

Regulations for a 15 year-old:

During the school year (Labor Day through June 1st)

• The employee can only work from 7 AM to 7 PM
• They cannot work more than 3 hours in a day
• They can ONLY work a total of 18 hours in a week

During summer vacation: (June 1st – through Labor Day)

• The employee can only work from 7 AM – 9 PM
• You need to receive a written statement by minor’s parent/legal guarding acknowledging understanding of duties/hours of employment and they need to GRANT you permission for their child to work.

 LLC-75, Parental Acknowledgement of Minor's Duties and Hours of Employment.
 You need to have in their employment file:

• Work Permit
• permission statement
• copy of letter sent to the issuing officer announcing the employment of the minor

 
Regulations for a 16 year-old:

During the school year (Labor Day through June 1st)

• Employee can work between 6 AM – 12 midnight
• Can work 8 hours a day –
• Cannot work more than 28 hours per week

During summer vacation: (June 1st – through Labor Day)

• Can work up to 10 hours a day
• Can work from 6 AM – 1 AM
• Cannot work more than 48 hours per week
• After 44 hours the minor can deny extra hours

For all minors:

• Summer school – if the minor attends summer school they have to follow the school year regulations. 
• You MUST give a 30 minute break for every 5 consecutive hours. 
• They cannot work more than 6 days in a row.

 
If you are under 14 you are only allowed to:

• deliver newspapers to customers;
• babysit on a casual basis;
• work as an actor or performer in movies, TV, radio, or theater;
• work as a homeworker gathering evergreens and making evergreen wreaths; and
• work for a business owned entirely by your parents as long as it is not in mining, manufacturing, or other hazardous occupations..

 
Keep in mind – there are certain occupations that minors are NOT allowed to be hired for (regardless of their age).  Example:

• Crane operator
• Electrical worker
• Excavator
• Forest firefighting
• Meat processing
• Paint manufacturing
• Roofer
• Woodworking
• In establishment where alcoholic beverages are produced, sold or dispensed (some exceptions jex: hotel, clubs, restaurants)
• Mining

For those under the age of 16, prohibited occupations are:

• Amusement park ride attendant,
• Baker
• Cook
• Chicken catcher
• Construction worker
• Lifeguard – lake, river, beach (okay at a traditional swimming pool if at least 15 years old)
• Public messenger
• Switchboard operator
• Window cleaner
• In freezer or meat coolers
• On highways

** If you are home schooled, attend private school, or no school, a "school day" or "school week" is any day or week when the public school where you live while employed is in session.
 
What is required when hiring a minor:

The employer must notify the issuing officer in writing of the employment of a minor and detail the normal duties and hours of employment within five days after the beginning of employ­ment and include the age and permit number of the minor. On termination of employment of a minor, the employer must notify the issuing officer within five days of the final day of employment that the minor no longer is employed by the employer.

You must post the ‘Abstract of the Child Labor Act Hours Provisions’ at your work place whenever you hire a person under the age of 18. 
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=553527&mode=2
(look for LLC-5)
                                                                                                        
For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Child Labor Act please visit their page: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/child_labor_act/10517

Please note, this is for informational purposes only.  We are not an HR firm - please contact a professional or view Pennsylvania's website for more details.