DOL Reminds Employers to Prioritize Safety for Summer Youth Hires

With summer being a popular season for youth employment, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently reminded employers hiring youth-aged workers to comply with federal child labor laws to ensure these hires have a safe and beneficial experience.

The DOL’s Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits employers from allowing youth-aged employees—workers who are under 18 years old—to perform certain tasks and work more than a specified number of hours. However, child labor laws can vary based on the industry and state. Failing to comply with the FLSA can result in significant consequences for employers.

Notably, the DOL’s reminder highlights recent investigations uncovering child labor law violations. Most penalties were related to child labor violations, including:

• Permitting minors to operate heavy machinery
• Allowing minors to work beyond the number of legally permitted hours
• Failing to pay for meal breaks

From 2017 to 2021, the DOL identified more than 4,000 cases of child labor law violations, with more than 13,000 youth-aged workers involved in violations.

What This Means
This recent warning is part of the DOL’s effort to ramp up enforcement and could translate to an increase in investigations this summer and beyond. As such, employers should continue to review relevant child labor laws to ensure compliance. Employers concerned about potential violations are encouraged to speak with legal counsel.

To aid employers in keeping youth-aged workers safe, the DOL provides some general tips.