Yesterday we began to explore how to attract, hire, and train seasonal teen workers. Today, we have a few more tips on that topic.
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How to Hire Minors for Seasonal Work
A lot of employers refuse to hire minors because of legal and other liability concerns. However, if you know how to properly hire minors, and only do it during your busiest seasons, it probably won’t prove to be such a concern. Here are some tips for properly hiring minors for seasonal work.
Know labor laws. Consult the federal Electronic Code of Regulations for more details, but here are the most important laws to know about when hiring minors. Remember to consider your local state’s laws, too.
- Anyone under the age of 18 may not work in hazardous conditions (the information via the link provided above outlines such occupations and conditions).
- Individuals under the age of 16 are generally not permitted to work in manufacturing, mining, machine-tending, transportation, construction, and public utility work.
- When school is in session, 14- and 15-year-olds can work 3 hours on a school day or 18 hours in a school week. When school is not in session, they may work up to 40 hours in a week. Some states also have restrictions for 16- and 17-year-olds.
- Many states require that minors take rest breaks during their shifts.
Be aware of the documents you’ll need. Know when you’ll need I-9 and W-4 forms and that you’ll be required to submit coverage options under the Affordable Care Act. In addition, some states require that minors have specific work papers that are approved by certain state officials or each minor’s legal guardian.
Arrange a training schedule. When hiring a minor, always give him or her a training schedule, especially if it deviates from his or her typical shift. You’ll want to make sure he or she will be able to attend.
How to Train Minors for Seasonal Work
Always make sure you train minors for seasonal work, especially if they’ve never had a job before. Here are some helpful tips.
Always include safety training. Did you know that every year, around 70 teens die from work-related injuries and that every 9 minutes, a teenager is injured seriously enough on the job to go to a hospital emergency room? But all of this can be avoided with proper safety and emergency training.
During onboarding training, cover basic information about what everyone should do in case of a fire or emergency, as well as what everyone should do if someone gets injured. And, of course, always cover how to be safe while on the job and how to avoid things like slip-and-fall accidents and how to operate certain basic machines they’ll be handling.
Make it interactive and fun, and use technology. If you want minors to pay attention during training, don’t simply lecture them and hand out manuals. Make their training interactive by developing fun exercises and opportunities that allow them to do things as they learn. And, if possible, use mobile technology for training, as well as virtual reality training, as minors nowadays will respond more positively to those learning avenues.
As you consider hiring minors for your busy seasons, be sure to remember the information outlined above and in yesterday’s post.