Sidekick
A practical guide to hiring teens
The rules aren't as complicated as they sound - here's what actually applies, in plain language.
This is a plain-language summary of federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act), not legal advice. Many states layer on stricter rules - shorter hours, required work permits, different age floors - so always confirm your own state's requirements before you post. The U.S. Department of Labor's YouthRules site is the authoritative federal source, and most state labor departments publish their own youth-employment page.
Ages 14-15
- Can only work outside school hours: 7am-7pm (extended to 9pm June 1 through Labor Day)
- Max 3 hours on a school day, 8 hours on a non-school day
- Max 18 hours in a school week, 40 hours in a non-school week
- Limited to specific, lower-risk occupations - think retail, food service, office/clerical work, and similar
- Cannot do manufacturing, mining, or any of the hazardous jobs listed below
Ages 16-17
- No federal limit on hours or time of day - state rules may still restrict this, especially during the school year
- Can do most jobs, with one major exception: the 17 federally declared "Hazardous Occupations" are off-limits regardless of age until 18. These cover things like operating many types of power-driven machinery, roofing, excavation, driving as a core job duty, and working with explosives - the kind of role most part-time/retail/food-service/office postings never come close to.
18 and up
No federal child-labor restrictions apply at all - an 18-year-old is treated the same as any adult hire.
How Sidekick helps
When you post a job, you can optionally set a minimum age of 16+ or 18+ right on the listing. Sidekick enforces it automatically - a student under that age simply can't submit an application, so you never have to sort it out after the fact. Leave it unset for roles with no real age concern and any student 13+ can apply.
Hiring for a whole crew at once - seasonal retail, a summer program, an event? The positions available field lets you post one listing for multiple openings instead of duplicating it, and your dashboard tracks how many you've filled as you go.