Summer Hires... What You Need to Know

Ice cold lemonade.  Tank tops.  Bathing suits.  Melted ice cream.  Are you thinking what I'm thinking??  It's about that time when the sun starts shining brighter and you need to begin thinking about hiring for the summer.  As business picks up for your organization, you may be considering adding a few extra bodies to your payroll.  Hiring teens is a great way to increase your productivity during your busy season, while providing new experiences to a future member of our workforce.

Just make sure you know the rules!  Many states require age verification at a minimum for hiring those under age 18.  Check here for your specific state's requirements: http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/certification.htm.

Here are a few of the basic rules that are pretty consistent across the board:

• Employers may not hire minors younger than 14 years of age.
• Teens age 14 and 15 may legally work between June 1 and Labor Day between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm.
• During the school year, teens age 14 and 15 may only work between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm.... And may work no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week... And no more than 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 hours during non-school weeks

With these tight restrictions, there are both benefits and challenges for you, as an employer, to hire teens during the summer months.  Teenage workers without a work history may require close supervision and more instruction and repetition to learn a task.  But you can help them develop good working habits by encouraging them to ask questions and always request assistance when they need help.  Patience is the key!  And, of course, always stress the importance of safety on the job.  

Good luck with the employee hunt and have a wonderfully warm summer!