Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations

Youth Employment: Acceptable Work Hours | Employment Certificates | Tips for Parents

Missouri Department of Labor sent this bulletin at 05/04/2022 02:51 PM CDT

The month of May is Safe Jobs for Youth Month. Missouri communities benefit greatly by having teens in the workforce. Employment teaches young people important skills, including responsibility, timeliness, honesty, teamwork, resourcefulness, communication skills and confidence.

The Missouri Division of Labor Standards works with employers, parents and school officials to help keep young workers safe and healthy while learning these valuable life lessons. Fast food, grocery stores, general retail, and lawn care are the most popular jobs for teenagers. Missouri law restricts the age, number of hours, and occupations youth can work during the school year and in the summer.

Acceptable Work Hours: 14 & 15 Year-Olds

* In certain circumstances, 14- and 15-year-olds may work until 10:30 p.m. if employed at a regional fair between June 1 and Labor Day.
Labor Day to June 1st (While School Is In Session)	June 1st to Labor Day (While School Is NOT in Session)
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.	7 a.m. to 9 p.m.*
No more than 8 hours on non-school days (weekends or school breaks) and no more than 3 hours on school days	No more than 8 hours on non-school days
No more than 6 days a week	No more than 6 days a week (40 hours a week)

Certificates for Employment

Certificate to Employ a Child 14 or 15 Years of Age - During School Term

Certificate to Employ a Child 14 or 15 Years of Age - During Non-School Term

Tips for Parents

Youth employment safety starts at home. It's vital for the parents or legal guardians of young workers to make sure that their kids know how to be safe, and how to identify potential safety risks.

Here are a few key things to consider as kids head off to work:

Be aware of how youth employment laws impact different ages, particularly 14-15 year-old youth workers.
Know the name of your child’s employer, as well as any location he or she may be working.
Look up the law on acceptable work hours for youth and be a part of the discussion when determining your child’s schedule.
Do some research and find out if the employer stresses safety on the job. Do they provide workers’ compensation insurance and if so, who is their carrier?
Find out what specific types of work your child will be doing and verify that those tasks are allowed under youth employment laws.
Know the potential hazards of the work being done and ensure that proper training will take place to ensure your child's safety.

If you feel your child’s employer is not complying with youth employment labor laws, please visit the youth employment website.

Visit our website for more information and guidelines on hiring youth and keeping them safe in the workplace.

Want to learn more about how parents, employers, school officials and the Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations work better together for youth employment?

Visit labor.mo.gov/dls/youthemployment

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