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Question: How long can 16 - year olds work on school days?

Answer: 16- and 17-year olds may be employed for unlimited hours if they are working in a job considered non-hazardous. There are no federal laws restricting the number of hours of work per day or per week for 16 and 17 year olds.

 

However kids age 14 and 15 may only work outside school hours in certain jobs under the following conditions:

no more than 3 hours on a school day,
18 hours in a school week,
8 hours on a nonschool day, or
40 hours in a nonschool week.

In addition, they may not begin work before 7 a.m. nor work after 7 p.m., except from June 1 through Labor Day, when evening hours are extended until 9 p.m.

For more on Child Labor Laws, visit the United States Department of Labor Web Site. And read the special section on Child Labor Laws.
Comments
1 thru 5 of 48 comments
On 05/12/06
cedric from GA said:
if i dont go to school do i still need a work permit?
On 12/11/05
Rebecca from NY said:
Students and minors should be allowed to work as many hours as they want, in order to make a sufficiant income for themsleves. Education laws will force kids to go to school, so honestly the time a student will obtain extra hours is in the evenings. An extra hour or so never hurt any one before.
On 11/01/05
brittiany from TX said:
i think that i should have a job because i am very responsible and i always follow directions
On 10/17/05
c00pster from AZ said:
I believe that the laws the gov't has created are for the best. If children under 16 it takes away from the time they should be spending in sports or with friends. But on the down side, if one needs money really bad to help with bills not being able to find employment could send them down the wrong road. Forcing them to do anything for money. Whether it be sell drugs or themselves. I know for a fact because I had a daughter at 15 and I know what its like to not be able to find work. Its a hard knock life but you do what you got to do until your 16.
On 10/11/05
MARIE from MI said:
I AM 15 WITH GOOD GRADES I AM IN THE 9TH GRADE BUT THEIR IS 12TH GRADER IN MY SECOND HOUR CLASS WHO DONT KNOW THEIR EVEN NUMBERS AND HAVE JOBS
1 thru 5 of 48 comments


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