Labor Laws For 17-Year-Olds In Missouri: What You Need Know

Missouri's labor laws apply to 17-year-olds, but to a lesser extent than to younger minors. While 17-year-olds are no longer restricted by the number of hours they can work or the times of day they can work, they are still subject to Missouri's Child Labor Law, which aims to keep young workers safe and healthy.

Work permits and certificates

Missouri's Child Labor Law applies to youth under the age of 16. Children under 14 years old are not permitted to work at any job, except in the agriculture or entertainment industries, or casual jobs. Youth who are 14 or 15 are generally permitted to work, but their work is subject to restrictions.

In Missouri, youth must be 14 years old or older to get a job, with a few exceptions. These include occasional yard work with parental consent, refereeing, and working in the entertainment industry if they have a permit.

Missouri child labor laws require 14 and 15-year-olds to have a work certificate (or work permit) to work in the state. The certificate must be obtained from the superintendent or authorized designee of the public school where the child resides. The certificate may also be issued by the chief executive officer of the child's charter school, the public or private school principal of the school the child attends, the designee of any of these school officials, or a parent of the child if they are homeschooled.

To obtain a work certificate, a youth must present the following information to the individual authorized to issue the certificate:

• A statement signed by their prospective employer setting forth the specific nature of the work they will perform and the exact hours of the day, the number of hours per day, and the days per week the child will work.
• Written consent of the child's parent, legal custodian, or guardian. For homeschooled children, a parent's signature on the work certificate will fulfill this requirement.
• Proof of the child's age (birth certificate or other evidence).

Additionally, the following information may be required by the issuing officer:

• A certificate from the principal of the school that the child attends, setting out the child's grades.
• A certificate from a physician that has personally examined the child, stating that the child is in good mental and physical health and is capable of performing labor without injury to their health and mental development.

The "Certificate to Employ a Child 14 or 15 Years of Age During School Term" should be completed during the school year, while the "Certificate to Employ a Child 14 or 15 Years of Age During Non-School Term" should be completed during the summer. After completion of Section A by the parent/guardian and student, the employer must complete Section B, certifying their understanding of the restrictions that Missouri law places on the hours and job types that 14 and 15-year-olds may work. Finally, Section C of the form must be completed by an authorized school representative or "issuing authority".

Entertainment permits are required for youth under the age of 16 who work in the entertainment industry. A child under 16 may work in this industry if the director of the Missouri Division of Labor Standards issues the work permit. No permit will be issued without proof of age, a permission form from the parent or legal guardian, and a written statement from the prospective employer setting out the nature and expected duration of employment. The employer must keep the work permit and the statement on file.

Working hours

Missouri's Child Labor Law applies to youth under the age of 16. Youth under 14 are not permitted to work at any job, except in the agriculture or entertainment industries, or casual jobs. Youth who are 14 or 15 are generally permitted to work, but their work is subject to restrictions.

For 17-year-olds, Missouri child labor laws do not restrict the number of hours they may work in a workday or a workweek. However, an employer may not require a minor to work when they are supposed to be in school.

For youth who are 14 and 15 years old, Missouri child labor laws and the FLSA restrict the times during the day they may work, depending on whether school is in session. During the school term, they may work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and during the school holidays, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. In certain circumstances, 14 and 15-year-olds may work until 10:30 p.m. at a regional fair between June 1 and Labor Day.

Fourteen and 15-year-olds may work no more than 6 days per workweek and no more than 8 hours on a non-school day. When the following day is a school day, they may work no more than 3 hours.

Missouri law does not require employers to provide employees with breaks, including a lunch hour. However, most companies offer a 30-minute break after five hours of continuous work. Child entertainers receive a 15-minute paid rest period every two hours and a lunch break every five and a half hours.

Breaks

In Missouri, employers are not mandated to provide meal or rest breaks to their employees. However, they may choose to do so at their discretion or through company policy or contracts.

Missouri's Child Labor Law applies to youth under the age of 16. Youth under 14 are not permitted to work except in agriculture, entertainment, or casual jobs. Fourteen and 15-year-olds are generally permitted to work but are subject to restrictions.

For 17-year-olds, Missouri's Child Labor Law does not restrict the number of hours they can work in a workday or a workweek. However, an employer cannot require them to work when they are supposed to be in school.

In the entertainment industry, youth workers must be provided with breaks and rest periods. They cannot work for more than five and a half hours without a meal break. Additionally, a 15-minute rest period, which counts as work time, is required after every two hours of continuous work.

Acceptable jobs

In Missouri, 17-year-olds are not bound by the state's Child Labor Laws , and are therefore not restricted in the number of hours they can work per day or week. However, they are still subject to federal child labor laws, which dictate that they cannot work for more than 40 hours a week.

There are also restrictions on the types of jobs that 17-year-olds can take on. The following is a list of acceptable jobs for 17-year-olds in Missouri:

• Office/clerical work
• Retail: cashier, price marking, bagging, selling, packing, shelving
• Maintenance/janitorial services for private residences
• Vehicle cleaning services: polishing and washing
• Food service delivery: preparing/serving food and beverages
• Customer service representative
• Restaurant biscuit maker
• Memory care aide
• Youth sports official
• House cleaner

There are also certain jobs that are deemed unacceptable for 17-year-olds in Missouri. These include:

• Door-to-door sales (excluding churches, schools, and scouts)
• Transporting or handling explosives or ammunition
• Operating hazardous equipment, such as ladders, scaffolding, cranes, or motor vehicles
• Handling/maintaining power-driven machinery (except lawn/garden machinery in a domestic setting)
• Jobs involving radiation or radioactive substances
• Jobs in hotels, motels, or resorts unless the work is physically separated from the sleeping accommodations
• Jobs in establishments that sell, manufacture, bottle, or store alcoholic beverages, unless 50% of sales are from other goods
• Mining, quarrying, or stone cutting/polishing (except in jewelry stores)
• Saw mills or cooperage stock mills where woodworking machinery is used
• Any job deemed dangerous to the life, limb, health, or morals of a young person

Unacceptable jobs

Missouri's Child Labor Law applies to youth under the age of 16. While there are some exceptions, children under 14 are generally not allowed to work. Youth who are 14 or 15 are permitted to work but are subject to restrictions on working hours and the type of work they can do. Here is a list of unacceptable jobs for youth under 16 in Missouri:

• Door-to-door sales (excluding sales related to churches, scouts, schools, and charitable organizations)
• Operating hazardous equipment, such as ladders, scaffolding, freight elevators, cranes, hoisting machines, and man lifts
• Handling or maintaining power-driven machinery, except for lawn or garden machinery in a domestic setting
• Mining, quarrying, or stone cutting/polishing (except in jewelry stores)
• Transporting or handling Type A and B explosives or ammunition
• Operating any motor vehicle
• Metal-producing industries, including stamping, punching, cold rolling, shearing, or heating
• Sawmills or cooperage stock mills, or where woodworking machinery is used
• Jobs involving ionizing or non-ionizing radiation or radioactive substances
• Jobs in hotels, motels, or resorts unless the work is physically separated from the sleeping accommodations
• Jobs in establishments that sell, manufacture, bottle, or store alcoholic beverages, unless 50% of the sales are from other goods
• Any job deemed dangerous to the life, limb, health, or morals of youth

It's important to note that Missouri's Child Labor Law also applies to youth under 16 who work in the entertainment industry, and they are subject to additional restrictions and requirements for breaks and rest periods.

Frequently asked questions