Fair Employment of Youth
People under the age of 20 may seek employment for a number of reasons. Some young people are seeking employment out of a desire to gain valuable experience while others seek economic advancement. In either circumstance, youth have legal rights as employees that must be upheld. Fair treatment of employees extends to youth workers as well as adult workers. The Fair Labors Standards Act works to protect the rights of youth employees and adults.
If your child has been deprived of wages that he or she has rightfully earned, you should speak with an experienced attorney. The experienced wage theft attorneys at Tycko & Zavareei, LLP, can fight to gain your child proper compensation under the law. Please contact us today by calling 202-973-0900 for more information.
The Youth Minimum Wage
A Fair Labor Standards Act amendment which went into effect in 1996 regulated that youth workers who were under the age of 20 could not be paid less than $4.25 per hour. Though this youth minimum wage is not the same as the minimum wage for adults, it must be recognized by employers with employees under the age of twenty. This standard of the FLSA has specific regulations as listed below:
- This reduced wage rate can only be paid for the first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment
- If state regulations require a higher rate of pay, that rate must be paid
- This regulation no longer applies the day an employee turns 20, regardless of whether or not the 90 days of employment have expired
- After ninety days of employment by any employer, this rate can not be enforced by another employer
The FLSA works to protect the rights of employees, including young people. Proper enforcement of these regulations is a requirement for all employers.
Contact Us
If you believe you or your child has been denied rightfully earned wages, contact the wage theft lawyers of Tycko & Zavareei, LLP, at 202-973-0900 to learn more about your legal rights and options.
