As you depart the hallways of high school and the doors close behind you for summer, you may be prepared to transition from school work to paid work in order to save a little money for date nights and an incredible summer.
The Fair Labor Standards Act is in place to protect you from employers who may take advantage of your age and maximize your unprecedented energy while minimizing your pay. The state of Indiana also upholds and modifies these laws. However, if the state has an even stricter requirement than the FLSA in any one area, the stricter requirement is the one that will be upheld.
If you attend a regularly accredited school and are off for the summer, as a 14 or 15-year-old, you have greater leniency than what you were given during the school year. While during the school year you were limited to a 3-hour workday and an 18-hour a week work week and had to be off by 7 p.m., you now can work an 8-hour day, a 40-hour week and work as late as 9 p.m. in the evening.
There are some general rules that apply to every minor, whether you are in school or out and whether or not you have the written permission of an applicable adult. No minor may work in hazardous jobs. No minor shall be paid less than the minimum hourly wage.
If you are a minor and feel that you are being taken advantage of by an , an Indiana employment law attorney may be able to listen to your situation and provide you with the guidance you need to resolve the issues and see that any wrongs are righted and any compensation owed is paid.
