Labor Laws

Child labor laws protect teens from working too long, too late, or too early

Work Hours

Ages 14 and 15 Ages 16 and 17
Not before 7 am or after 7 pm during the school year Not before 5 am or after 10 pm on school nights
Not during school hours Not before 5 am or after 12:30 am when there is no school the next day
Maximum hours when school is in session 18 hours a week but not over 4 hours a day Monday-Thursday
3 hours a day on school days 8 hours a day Friday-Sunday and holidays
8 hours a day Saturday-Sunday and holidays
Maximum hours when school is NOT in session 40 hours a week 48 hours a week
8 hours a day 8 hours a day

BREAKS/MEALS

  • Paid rest periods of at least 10 minutes must be provided during each 4 hours of work time.
  • Meal periods of at least 30 minutes must be provided no later than 5 hours after work starts.

BY LAW, EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE:

  • A safe and healthful workplace.
  • Training about health and safety, including information on chemicals that could be harmful
  • Protective clothing and equipment.
  • Payment for medical care if employee gets hurt or sick because of your job. Employee may also be entitled to lost wages.
  • Minimum Wage of $9.14/hour in San Francisco.  For more information about minimum wage laws, go to the Living Wage/Living Health Division of the Office of Contract Administration website at:  http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/oca/lwlh/mw/faq.htm

IN CALIFORNIA, NO WORKER UNDER 18 MAY:

  • Drive a motor vehicle or forklift on the job
  • Use powered equipment like a circular saw, box crusher, meat slicer, or bakery machine
  • Work near radiation
  • Handle, serve, or sell alcoholic beverages

Information

How to list a job

Employer Evaluation Form

Labor Laws

Enterprise For High School Students • 200 Pine Street Suite 600 • San Francisco, CA 94104 • (415) 392-7600 • info@ehss.org