The summer is here and your kids are out of school. So, you invite your 13 year old son to help you out around the office, or your 14 year old daughter to take sales orders over the phone. Sounds innocent enough, right? Wrong!
Strict guidelines govern the employment of minors, with stiff fines imposed for non-compliance. Over 15 years ago, California passed the Omnibus Child Labor Reform Act (AB 1900) which details the working conditions under which minors may be employed. It addresses working hours, conditions, safety, schooling and parental permissions.
However, The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced on June 16, 2010, their decision to impose new penalties to employers who illegally employ minor workers. Specifically:
- Employers who employ 12 or 13 year-old minors in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will be fined at least $6,000 per violation, more than 6 times the prior penalty.
- Employers who employ minors under 12 years old will be fined at least $8,000, up nearly 10 times the prior penalty.
- Penalties for employing minors under age 14 could be raised to $11,000 under certain conditions.
In light of these strict penalties, it is crucial that employers are informed and comply with child labor laws. For information on child labor laws in your state, please contact one of our Human Resources Representatives.
Source: www.EPLIPro.com July newsletter