The Minimum Legal Working Age in New York

The Minimum Legal Working Age in New YorkThe Minimum Legal Working Age in New YorkIf you live in New Yorkand are considering getting your first job, you need to find out what thetiefpunkt legal working age in your stateis. Are you eligibleto work there? If so, you can start saving for school or college expenses, a vehicle, clothing or other items young people generally need. And dont forget to set aside some money to have fun, if possible. How Old You MustBe to Work in New York Both federal child labor laws and New Yorkstate law agree that the minimum age to work is 14 (with some exceptions).However, child labor laws in each state may also indicate theminimum age to workand which permits are needed. When there is a conflict between federal and state laws, the mora stringentlaw will apply. Children younger than 14 may work in some capacities, however. Child labor laws do not restrict them from working on a family farm or in a family business. Young juveniles may also complete hous ehold chores or yard work (without power-driven tools) for payor work in the entertainment industry,as babysitters or on paper routes. That should be good news for tweens and children hoping to earn some extra cash. Before youthbegin theirjobs, it is important to review the rules and restrictionssurroundingchildlabor laws, especially if they want to work in more official capacities as they age. Certificates for Work New Yorkstate lawrequireschild employment certificatesfor youth under age 18.Employment certificates are provided by the school for most juveniles, but child performers must go to the Labor Department for their certificates. In the Empire State, working papers are different colors based on the age group.Also, youth younger than 18 will be provided with an age certificate by request, however, it is not required under New York state law. What Hours Teens Can Work Although teens ages 14-15 can work in a variety of jobs, including in offices, restaurants, grocery sto res and hospitals, the hours they work are limited. Youth this age cant work more thanthreehours in a school day, 18 hours in a school week, eighthours on a non-school day or40 hours during a non-school week. Additionally, these teens mustwork hours that fallbetween 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except from June 1 through Labor Day, when working hours extend to 9 p.m.) Teens ages 16-17 may work up to four hours on school days, eight hours on non-school days and 28 hours during school weeks. Neither group may work more than six days in a row. When school is out, older teens may work up to 48 hours between the hours of 6 a.m. to midnight (during the school year they work until 10 p.m.). Teens of all ages may not work in hazardous occupations that might cause serious bodily harm, death or adverse health effects. For more information on the minimum age to work in New York and how to obtain employment certificates, visit the New York State Labor Website.