Youth Employment for Employers

Every employer employing workers under the age of 16 shall make and keep for a period of not less than two years, on the premises where any child is employed, a copy of the work certificate, a record of the name, address, and age of the child, and times and hours worked by the child each day. Employers also must retain an Employer's Employing Workers Under the Age of 16 List containing information about each young employee and post this list in a conspicuous place in the place of business. When the employment is terminated, employers are required to send the work certificates back to the school official and send the work permits back to the Division.

Work Certificates

Before a work certificate can be issued for the young worker, the employer must provide a signed statement of the intention to employ setting forth the specific nature of the occupation in which he intends to employ the child and the exact hours of the day, the number of hours per day and the days per week during which the child is to be employed.

Employing Young Workers in the Entertainment Industry

Those who employ young workers in the entertainment industry are required to provide breaks and rest periods for youth workers. A youth cannot work more than five and one-half hours without a meal break. Additionally, a 15-minute rest period (which counts as work time) is required after each two hours of continuous work for youth in the entertainment industry.

Things employers should do prior to hiring youth

• Understand and comply with child labor laws and occupational safety and health regulations that apply to your business.
• Stress safety, particularly among first-line supervisors who have the greatest opportunity to influence teens and their work habits.
• Work with supervisors and experienced workers to develop an injury and illness prevention program and help identify and solve safety and health problems.
• Assess and eliminate hazards for adolescent workers.
• Train adolescent workers to recognize hazards and use safe work practices.

Are you complying with the child labor laws? Take the Test!

In an effort to be proactive in assisting our customers the Division of Labor Standards developed this "self-help" tool to aid employers in complying with Missouri's youth employment laws. Our experience has shown that most employers of youth workers have the best interests of the youth in mind, but that the most common problems encountered in your industry occur as a result of a lack of thorough knowledge of the law.
This tool is designed to help evaluate your business's legal compliance using very simple straightforward questions followed by a more thorough explanation of the requirements of Missouri's Child Labor Law.

SHOULD WORKERS UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE DO THE FOLLOWING?

If you answered "No" to any of the above questions then the Missouri Division of Labor Standards congratulates you on being in complete compliance with Missouri's Child Labor Laws. If you answered, "Yes" to any of the questions, you may not be in compliance and should review the following summary to assure the youth employees of your business are operating in accordance with the law.

SUMMARY

1. Operate or clean power-driven meat slicers or other meat processing machines?

Youth under age 16 may not set up, operate or assist to operate, clean, oil, adjust, or repair, power driven meat processing equipment. This includes meat slicers, meat grinders, patty forming machines, meat and bone cutting saws, and food processors when used to process meats. Section 294.040 (1) & (2), RSMo prohibits any employment in connection with the operation, oiling, cleaning, maintenance or washing of any power driven machinery.

2. Operate or clean any power-driven dough mixer or other bakery machines?

Youth under 16 may not set up, operate or assist to operate, clean, oil, adjust, or repair power driven bakery machines. This includes horizontal and vertical dough mixers (including countertop models), batter mixers, bread dividing, rounding, or molding machines, dough brakes, dough sheeters, cookie and cracker machines, and cake cutting bandsaws. Section 294.040 (1) & (2), RSMo prohibits any employment in connection with the operation, oiling, cleaning, maintenance or washing of any power driven machinery.

3. Operate, load, or unload scrap paper balers or paper box compactors?

Youth under the age of 16 may not operate or unload scrap paper balers and paper box compactors. Section 294.040 (1) & (2), RSMo prohibits any employment in connection with the operation, oiling, cleaning, maintenance or washing of any power driven machinery.

4. Drive a motor-vehicle on the job?

Youth under the age of 16 may not operate any type of motor vehicle. See Section 294.040 (7), RSMo.

5. Cook?

All cooking is prohibited with the exception of devices that involve the use of deep fat fryers which are equipped with and utilize devices which automatically raise and lower the "baskets". Section 294.040 (15), RSMo prohibits employment in any occupation or place of employment dangerous to the life, limb, health or morals of children under the age of 16.

6. Bake?

Youth under 16 years of age are prohibited from performing any baking duties. Section 294.040 (15), RSMo prohibits employment in any occupation or place of employment dangerous to the life, limb, health or morals of children under the age of 16.

7. Handle hot oil or grease?

Youth under the age of 16 may not handle any hot oil or grease. Section 294.040 (15), RSMo prohibits employment in any occupation or place of employment dangerous to the life, limb, health or morals of children under the age of 16.

8. Work at an establishment where sale of alcoholic items account for more than fifty percent of the gross sales?

Youth under the age of 16 may not work at any place or establishment in which intoxicating alcoholic liquors or beverages account for more than fifty percent of the gross revenue. See Section 294.040 (14), RSMo.

9. Work inside a freezer or meat cooler?

Minors 14 and 15-years old are prohibited from working in freezers and meat coolers. This includes duties - such as taking inventory or performing cleanup work - which would require them to enter and remain in coolers or freezers for prolonged durations. These minors may enter such refrigeration equipment momentarily - as when retrieving an item for use outside the equipment - if the equipment is designed to prevent the worker from being locked inside. Section 294.040 (15), RSMo prohibits employment in any occupation or place of employment dangerous to the life, limb, health or morals of children under the age of 16.

10. Operate power-driven bread slicers or bagel slicers?

Minors 14 and 15-years old may not operate, setup, adjust, repair, oil or clean power-driven food slicers, including bread slicers and bagel slicers. Section 294.040 (1) & (2), RSMo prohibits any employment in connection with the operation, oiling, cleaning, maintenance or washing of any power driven machinery.

11. Operate any power-driven equipment?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not operate power-driven machinery, including lawnmowers, trimmers, and "weed-whackers". Exceptions would be - mowing in a "domestic application", the operation of office machinery, vacuum cleaners, floor waxers, and machines and devices used in connection with preparing and serving food and beverages, such as dishwashers, toasters, popcorn poppers, milk shake blenders, and coffee grinders. Section 294.040 (1) & (2), RSMo prohibits any employment in connection with the operation, oiling, cleaning, maintenance or washing of any power driven machinery.

12. Work from ladders?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not perform work requiring the use of ladders, scaffolds, or their substitutes. This includes outside window washing that involves working from windowsills. See Section 294.040 (3), RSMo.

13. Work during school hours?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not work during school hours. School hours are determined by the local public school district in which the youth resides while so employed unless the youth has been permanently excused from school pursuant to Chapter 167 RSMo (home schooled). See Section 294.027 (1) & (2), RSMo and Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

14. Work before 7:00 a.m. on any day?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not be employed before 7:00 a.m. on any day. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

15. Work past 7:00 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not be employed past 7:00 p.m. from the day after Labor Day through May 31. This applies even if there is no school the next day, such as a Friday or Saturday night, as well as in weeks when school is not in session such as during spring break. These same minors may not work past 9:00 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

16. Work past 9:00 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not be employed past 9:00 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day. They may not work past 7:00 p.m. between the day after Labor Day and May 31. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

17 .Work more than 3 hours on a school day, including Fridays?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not work more than 3 hours on a school day, including Fridays. This prohibition applies even if there is no school the next day. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

18. Work more than 8 hours on any day?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may work up to 8 hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays and on other days when school is not in session, as long as they do not exceed the maximum permissible hours in any workweek. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

19. Work more than 6 days in any work week?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not work more than 6 days in any work week. For these purposes, school is in session in any week in which school meets, even if it meets for a part of a day or a portion of the week. School hours and school weeks are determined by the local public school where the minor would attend if he or she attended public school. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

20. Work more than 40 hours in any week?

Youth 14 and 15-years old may not work more than 40 hours in a week. For these purposes, school is in session in any week in which school meets, even if it meets for a part of a day or a portion of the week. School hours and school weeks are determined by the local public school where the minor would attend if he or she attended public school. See Section 294.030 (1) & (2), RSMo.

21. Do you employ any workers who are less than 14 years of age?

Youth 13 years of age and younger are generally not allowed to work. Permissible employment for such youth is limited to exempt work such as delivering newspapers, referee, performing casual babysitting, and acting, performing minor chores around private homes, and working for a parent who is the sole owner of a business. See Section 294.011 (7) & (8), RSMo and Section 294.022, RSMo.

22. Do you fail to maintain the appropriate work records for youth under the age of 16 at the place of employment?

Work certificates, record of time & hours worked each day, and the name, birth date and address - for every employee under 16 years of age must be maintained for a period of 2 years on the premises where the child is employed. See Section 294.090 (1) & (2), RSMo.