What to Know About North Carolina Child Labor Laws

What to Know About North Carolina Child Labor LawsWhat to Know About North Carolina Child Labor LawsIf youre a teenager living in North Carolina and you want to get a job, where do you start? It can be helpful to first understand the child labor laws in the state so youre even sure whether you canwork there. Each states laws can be somewhat different, so if your family recently moved from Ohio, it doesnt necessarily mean that you can also work in North Carolina simply because you had a job before you moved. How Old You Have to Be to Work in North Carolina You can begin working in North Carolina when youre 14 years old, but you must have a child employment certificate to do so. You can obtain an employment certificate from the Department of Labor or your countys Social Services office. Fourteenis the same age that federal law sets as the minimum age to work, although there are some exceptions. When theres a conflict between federal and state laws, the more restrictive law will app ly, but thats not an issue in North Carolina because the minimum age is the same. When a 14-Year-Old Can Work Although North Carolina does allow a 14-year-old to work, the state does treat some teens differently depending on exactly how old they are. For example, 14- and 15-year-olds can work up to threehours on school days and up to eighthours on non-school days, but theyre prohibited from working more than18 hours during weeks when school is in session or more than 40 hours during weeks when school is out. They must also work between7 a.m.and7 p.m. except during summers when they canwork until 9 p.m.The Wage-Hour Act dictates that at a minimum, teensunder the age of 16 must be given a 30-minute break after theyve worked for five consecutive hours. Juveniles cannot hold jobs that are considered hazardous, such as most manufacturing jobs or in jobs that expose them to toxic chemicals or other dangerous substances or working conditions. Rules for Older Teens Teens in the 16- to 17-year-old age group have a bit more flexibility when it comes to working hours, but they generally cant work between the hours of11 p.m.and5 a.m. if school is in session that day. In other words, they cant clock out at work at 5 a.m. and head off to school a few hours later. They cant clock out at midnight if they have school the next day. With parental permission and with permission from a school administrator, however, this restriction can sometimes be waived. Older teens are typically also prohibited from working under dangerous conditions and in hazardous jobs, but there are exceptions. For example, teens who participate in programs that are defined as apprenticeships by the Fair Labor Standards Act may be able to work in hazardous fields that are normally off-limits to youths. Discuss your options with your potential employer or with a North Carolina child labor authority, or visit the North Carolina State Labor website.