The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has revised the rules on employing teen workers, adding precautions that will be better able to ensure employee safety. Effective on July 19, 2010, changes include:

• Prohibited for workers under age 18: work at poultry-slaughtering and packaging plants, forestry services, riding on a forklift as a passenger, operating several types of power tools.
• Counter workers or cashiers in grocery stores may now occasionally enter freezers to retrieve items.
• Students in work-study programs may work up to 18 hours per week when school is in session, even during school hours if it is part of a school-supervised program.
• Fourteen and 15 year olds may perform work of an intellectual or artistically creative nature, such as computer programming, tutoring, singing, playing a musical instrument, and drawing.
• Fourteen and 15 year olds may not perform door-to-door or street sales. Legitimate, volunteer fund-raising activities by charitable organizations are not included in this restriction.

Complete regulations can be found here: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-11434.htm

For assistance in complying with the latest laws in employing your workers, please contact Nextep’s HR Department at hr@nextep.com.