DOL To Host Safety Webinar for Teenage Workers

As millions of teens enter the summer seasonal workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor has scheduled a webinar for teens, parents, employers and educators to review how federal and state laws protect teen workers. The virtual event will be held Thursday, May 27 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Representatives from the Wage and Hour Division’s Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre district offices will join officials from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor Law Compliance to provide information and resources on regulations affecting youth employment, including the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act.

“As the nation’s recovery continues, the U.S. Department of Labor is committed to educating workers of all ages about labor standards, particularly for those employed in essential, public-facing occupations,” said Northeast Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Mark Watson. “Americans are navigating a new normal and the rights of essential workers have never been more important. We encourage teens, parents, employers, educators and other stakeholders to take advantage of this event to get information they need.”

Attendance for the webinar is free, but registration is required. Register for the webinar.

The webinar is part of the division’s “Essential Workers – Essential Protections” initiative to offer training on critical workplace protections to workers. This program builds on the division’s YouthRules! initiative, which promotes positive and safe work experiences for young workers by educating the public about the types of jobs teens can hold and the number of hours they can work.

The FLSA establishes both hours and occupational standards for minor employees. Children under age 18 may not be employed in any occupation the Secretary of Labor has declared to be hazardous. Employers must follow these rules unless a specific exemption applies.

The division offers numerous resources to ensure employers have the tools they need to understand their responsibilities and to comply with federal law, such as online videos and confidential calls to local Wage and Hour Division offices. Learn more about the FLSA. Contact the Wage and Hour Division toll-free at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) for more information.