Many businesses in New Hampshire are seasonally driven- tourism and summer residents raise the population and bring money into the state each summer. Finding good seasonal workers is therefore necessary for businesses in order to meet inconsistent labor demand. Each year, many of these seasonal workers are teens and students who are free during the summer months. In terms of timing and availability, the fit seems ideal, however hiring teens has its own set of unique challenges due to state and federal youth employment regulations.
The Department of Labor wants minors to have positive employment experiences, but at the same time employers need to assure that these work experiences are safe and appropriate. In order to meet these twin demands, there are limitations and guidelines governing the type of work teens may perform. For example, 14 and 15 year olds employed in the restaurant or food service industries have very specific tasks that they are permitted and not permitted to perform:
•They can perform cooking over an electric or gas stove with no open flame. Cooking over a flame is not allowed.
•They are permitted to operate deep fryers, but only those with automatic raising and lowering devices
•Cleaning, repairing, or maintaining non-power driven cooking equipment is generally permitted, however these tasks are not permitted on any power driven slicers, processors, or equipment.
•Baking is entirely prohibited to 14 and 15 year olds. This includes everything from weighing ingredients to operating ovens.
The current provisions have been in place since 2005, and it is very important to understand the practical implications for employers seeking to hire teens. Teens can provide low-cost seasonal work, but employers need to assure that they are in compliance with existing regulation. The list above is far from exhaustive, and when in doubt you should contact Rice Law Office, PLLC for a free phone consultation at 603-528-5299 or visit our website for helpful articles and information.