[US] Legislation to limit minors’ work hours in Florida

In Florida, legislation has been introduced to limit the number of hours minors in the state can legally work, The Famuan reports.

House Bill 49: Employment and Curfew for Minors was created to limit students’ working hours. The bill was proposed by Representative Linda Chaney.

The bill reportedly states that minors aged 17 and younger may only work up to 15 hours a week and that during holidays and school breaks, minors cannot work before 7am and after 9pm.

Youth employment laws often set limits on the number of hours and times of day that minors can work. Such restrictions are intended to prevent interference with school attendance and ensure that minors are getting adequate rest.

There are a number of reasons why establishing a job curfew for minors is beneficial. It helps ensure young workers have enough time to rest and sleep and it helps balance their responsibilities, such as schoolwork and extracurricular activities, with work commitments.

In addition, a job curfew can be a safeguarding tool, preventing minors from working late hours when it could be more challenging to travel home or certain risks may be elevated.

According to the Department of Education’s Child Labor Laws, minors must be at least 14 to 17 years old to work. Youth employment laws may require employers to provide minors with regular breaks and rest periods during work shifts.

Rest breaks are essential for the safety and wellbeing of workers and many jurisdictions have specific regulations prohibiting young workers from engaging in hazardous work.

Minors are also required to obtain work permits or parental consent before they can legally work. These permits may have additional requirements, such as proof of age, proof of enrollment in school, or limits on the number of hours that can be worked.

Keenan Harvey - a former manager at a McDonald’s franchise in Tallahassee - told The Famuan he believes that schools should create on-campus job sources for students.

“This is a good way not to overwork students so that they still can enjoy their high school experience. Although I think the schools should provide work-study jobs for students. Therefore, students would not have to leave campus for work and could still focus on their studies.

"This gives students an extra way to make more money while not doing extensive work. Students often have different home lives where they must provide for their families,” Mr Harvey said. “This will give them a way to receive more work hours while helping around the school.”

The specifics of youth employment laws can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction therefore it would be sensible to consult the labour department or employment agency in a specific area for accurate and current information on employment curfews for minors.

Source: The Famuan

(Links and quote via original reporting)

In Florida, legislation has been introduced to limit the number of hours minors in the state can legally work, The Famuan reports.

House Bill 49: Employment and Curfew for Minors was created to limit students’ working hours. The bill was proposed by Representative Linda Chaney.

The bill reportedly states that minors aged 17 and younger may only work up to 15 hours a week and that during holidays and school breaks, minors cannot work before 7am and after 9pm.

Youth employment laws often set limits on the number of hours and times of day that minors can work. Such restrictions are intended to prevent interference with school attendance and ensure that minors are getting adequate rest.

There are a number of reasons why establishing a job curfew for minors is beneficial. It helps ensure young workers have enough time to rest and sleep and it helps balance their responsibilities, such as schoolwork and extracurricular activities, with work commitments.

In addition, a job curfew can be a safeguarding tool, preventing minors from working late hours when it could be more challenging to travel home or certain risks may be elevated.

According to the Department of Education’s Child Labor Laws, minors must be at least 14 to 17 years old to work. Youth employment laws may require employers to provide minors with regular breaks and rest periods during work shifts.

Rest breaks are essential for the safety and wellbeing of workers and many jurisdictions have specific regulations prohibiting young workers from engaging in hazardous work.

Minors are also required to obtain work permits or parental consent before they can legally work. These permits may have additional requirements, such as proof of age, proof of enrollment in school, or limits on the number of hours that can be worked.

Keenan Harvey - a former manager at a McDonald’s franchise in Tallahassee - told The Famuan he believes that schools should create on-campus job sources for students.

“This is a good way not to overwork students so that they still can enjoy their high school experience. Although I think the schools should provide work-study jobs for students. Therefore, students would not have to leave campus for work and could still focus on their studies.

"This gives students an extra way to make more money while not doing extensive work. Students often have different home lives where they must provide for their families,” Mr Harvey said. “This will give them a way to receive more work hours while helping around the school.”

The specifics of youth employment laws can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction therefore it would be sensible to consult the labour department or employment agency in a specific area for accurate and current information on employment curfews for minors.

Source: The Famuan

(Links and quote via original reporting)