With labor shortages leaving fast food and other minimum-wage work environments short-staffed, many businesses are relying on teenage employees to fill the void. But employers must be aware of applicable child labor laws, which aim to protect minors’ health and safety and to avoid interfering with their education. Employers should keep in mind three major categories of child labor protections under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)—job restrictions, hour restrictions, and time restrictions. The protections should inform all hiring, scheduling, and work assignment decisions.
