House Bill 49: Employment and Curfew for Minors was created to limit students’ working hours. The bill was proposed by Representative Linda Chaney, a Republican from St. Petersburg.
The bill states that minors age 17 and younger can only work up to 15 hours a week and that during holidays and school breaks, minors can not work before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
Youth employment laws often set limits on the number of hours and times of day that minors can work. These restrictions aim to prevent interference with school attendance and ensure adequate rest for minors.
Jadarious Bell is a former fast food employee who began working in high school. Bell said that while working in high school, “My managers did not care that I was a minor and was still in school.” Employees were expected to stay at work until all tasks were complete.
Establishing a job curfew for minors can be beneficial for a few reasons. It helps ensure that young people have enough time for rest and sleep, essential for their overall well-being and development. It also helps balance their responsibilities, such as schoolwork and extracurricular activities, with their work commitments.
Additionally, a job curfew can provide safety by preventing minors from working late hours when it might be more challenging to get home or when certain risks may be higher.
Overall, it’s about finding a healthy balance between work, education and personal time for young individuals.
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.
These breaks are essential for the well-being and safety of young workers. Many jurisdictions have specific regulations prohibiting minors from engaging in hazardous work.
Also, minors are 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 is a former manager at a McDonald’s in Tallahassee. Harvey 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,” Harvey said. “This will give them a way to receive more work hours while helping around the school.”
Overall, it is important to note that the specifics of youth employment laws can vary significantly depending on the jurisdiction. It’s recommended to consult the labor department or employment agency in your specific area for accurate and up-to-date information regarding employment curfews for minors.