The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

The Student News Site of Westborough High School

The Lobby Observer

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Laws Affecting Jobs For Teenagers

By Jackie Latimer

It isn’t a secret that teens want money.  We want money to go to the movies, go out to dinner, and to go shopping.  However, teenagers arrive at an age when their parents no longer want to give them spending money because they expect teens to earn it themselves with a job.  The only major problem is that there are laws making it difficult to find a job and to work enough hours to make a substantial amount.

According to youthrules.gov, a child under the age of 14 can only “deliver newspapers to customers, babysit on a casual basis, work as an actor or performer in movies, TV, radio, or theater, and/or work as a homeworker gathering evergreens and making evergreen wreaths” in the United States.  A child ranging from ages 14-15 cannot work for “more than 3 hours on a school day, including Friday, more than 18 hours per week when school is in session, more than 8 hours per day when school is not in session, more than 40 hours per week when school is not in session, and before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on any day, except from June 1st through Labor Day, when nighttime work hours are extended to 9 p.m.”  By the age of 16, there are no hour requirements.  

As a 15 year old myself, I experience many encounters everyday making me feel the need to work.  Most of my older friends have found jobs and always want to go places, but I don’t have my own money to pay for anything.  Although I am of legal age to be hired, employers hesitate to hire young teens because if a 15 year old accidentally works for 3 ½ hours on a school day instead of only 3, the employer can get in a lot of trouble with the law and may have to pay a hefty fine of thousands of dollars.  I find some of these laws to be unwarranted.  

Although younger teens should be protected by the law in the workplace, the teenager should help decide how many hours s/he wants to work.  For instance, I wouldn’t mind working from 3 pm until 8 pm on some nights.  However, this would be a five hour work day which is illegal.   

Also, some families may need another source of income which might fall on the shoulders of the teen in the family.  But if the teen can not make all that much money because s/he isn’t allowed to work all that many hours, s/he won’t be much help to their family.

Although I agree with restricting some of the hours such as not working more than 40 hours per week, others, like the no more than 3 hours per school day, is not fair.  Speaking from experience, I have been looking for a decent place to work where I will get hours and make money, but I have been unable to find somewhere willing to hire a young teen.  These employers are only unwilling because of the extensive child labor laws in place.  In the future, I would hope that these laws, or perhaps the punishments, will become more lenient so younger teenagers will be able to find work if they need it.

 

Sources:

http://www.youthrules.gov/know-the-limits/16-17.htm

http://www.youthrules.gov/know-the-limits/14-15.htm

http://www.youthrules.gov/know-the-limits/under14.htm

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/youthlabor/enforcement

 

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  • G

    Grace GreenJun 10, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    I agree that it is hard to find jobs as a young teen. This is a very interesting and relatable article that is well-written.

    Reply
  • E

    Emma WestJun 10, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    I´m 15 myself, and as I was looking for jobs this summer, I came across the same problem: companies prefer waiting to hire until 16. I think you did a great job of supporting your respectful arguments with evidence. Legislatures should definitely consider making different laws so that hard working teens can earn more money.

    Reply