Tennessee Child Labor Laws
Tennessee child labor laws exist to protect minors from unsafe or unhealthy working environments. The state of Tennessee sets standards for the amount of work children can do and under what conditions. The Department of Labor & Workforce Development enforces these regulations, ensuring that all employers provide a safe and appropriate work environment for their employees under 18 years old.
Tennessee law states that only children between 14 and 15 may be employed in non-agricultural occupations, provided they have the proper authorization papers filled out by parents or guardians. All minors must also obtain a Certificate of Age from the school district confirming approval for employment. Furthermore, before being hired, applicants younger than 16 must receive an orientation about safety at work and undergo a drug test as well as an employment eligibility verification process.
Child Labor Laws in Tennessee For Minors Under 14
The state of Tennessee has established child labor laws to protect minors under the age of 14 from exploitation and hazardous working conditions. With the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938, Congress enacted a federal minimum wage, overtime pay, record keeping, and youth employment standards that applied to all states across the nation. In addition to these federal regulations, Tennessee also enforces its own set of stricter guidelines surrounding the employment of minors under 14 years old.
Tennessee prohibits children under 14 years old from working in any occupations deemed hazardous or detrimental to their health; this includes operating power-driven machinery, roofing operations, and other hazardous jobs as determined by the Commissioner.
Child Labor Laws in Tennessee For Minors 14 and 15 Years Old
Tennessee has strict laws in place to protect minors ages 14 and 15 from working too many hours or in hazardous conditions. The state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development closely monitors employers to make sure they are following the rules. Employers must obtain a permit from the department before hiring minors, and all parents of minors must also sign an agreement with the employer regarding work hours, wages, days of work, etc. Minors under 16 may not work more than four hours on a school day or eight hours on a non-school day. Additionally, no minor is allowed to work more than 40 hours per week or before 7 am or after 7 pm on any given day in Tennessee.
These laws are designed to ensure that children are safe while they are employed and that their education is not disrupted by long working hours.
Child Labor Laws in Tennessee For Minors 16 and 17 Years Old
Child labor laws in Tennessee are designed to protect minors aged 16 and 17 from exploitation by employers. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development is responsible for enforcing these laws, which prohibit minors from working in hazardous occupations, limit the hours they can work during school weeks, establish break time requirements, and other important protections.
Tennessee’s child labor laws restrict minors aged 16 or 17 from working outside of normal school hours. During the school week, minors may only work between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., with no more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week allowed regardless of whether or not it is a school day.
Jobs That Minors Can Do In Tennessee
For teenagers in Tennessee looking to make money, the list of legal jobs can be limited. However, there are a variety of options for minors that are not only interesting and fun, but also provide vital experience for the workplace.
First and foremost, teens who are 14 and 15 years old can work in non-hazardous jobs in Tennessee as long as they have a valid work permit. These include retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and amusement parks. Additionally, minors aged 16 or 17 may be employed in any job that is not declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. This adds expanded job opportunities such as factory labor or working at gas stations or convenience stores.
Minors may also opt to pursue self-employment through babysitting or pet sitting services on weekends or after school hours.
- Babysitting
- Pet sitting or dog walking
- Lawn mowing or yard work
- Snow shoveling or leaf raking
- House cleaning or organizing
- Tutoring or homework help
- Car washing or detailing
- Grocery store bagger or stocker
- Retail store associate or cashier
- Food service worker or dishwasher
- Newspaper or flyer delivery
- Recycling or garbage collection
- Event set up or tear down
- Data entry or administrative assistant
- Bookstore or library shelving
- Customer service representative
- Lifeguard or swim instructor
- Camp counselor or assistant
- Carrying out tasks for the elderly or disabled
- Farm work or animal care
Hazardous Jobs For Teens In Tennessee As Child Labor Laws
Hazardous jobs for teens in Tennessee are regulated by child labor laws, which are designed to protect young workers from dangerous working conditions. The state of Tennessee has a variety of restrictions when it comes to employing minors. Employers must obtain a Child Labor Certificate (CLC) prior to hiring anyone under the age of 16. This certificate ensures that the applicant meets all safety standards and requirements outlined by the state. Additionally, employers must adhere to federal and state labor laws regarding hours worked and wages paid.
Most types of hazardous work are prohibited for teens in Tennessee, such as operating heavy machinery or scaffolding, performing electrical work, working with explosives or toxic materials, driving vehicles or any type of motorized equipment and working at heights greater than six feet above ground level.
- Operating heavy machinery
- Working with pesticides or hazardous chemicals
- Working in demolition or excavation
- Handling explosives
- Roofing or working at heights
- Mining or logging
- Working with power tools
- Handling firearms or ammunition
- Operating motor vehicles
- Working with large animals