Hiring High School Students This Summer?

As the summer hiring season begins, the worker shortage will be prompting more companies to offer opportunities to youths. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division reminds employers to review youth hiring practices and ensure they are compliant with federal labor laws.

For example, recent DOL investigations of Idaho and Oregon employers led to more than US$240,000 in civil penalties and the recovery of $114,382 in overtime back wages and liquidated damages for 266 workers. Most penalties were related to child labor violations.

“Summer and seasonal work offers young people a unique opportunity to get valuable workplace experience while earning money, but it should never come at the expense of their education or safety,” said Acting Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman. “Employers who hire youth-aged workers are obligated to comply with federal child labor laws to ensure the experience is safe and beneficial for workers.”

For more information about young workers’ rights and other laws enforced by the DOL Wage and Hour Division, contact its toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.