Yes, a business can hire 14- and 15-year-olds for holiday and winter-break work, but federal law limits when and how long they work. During a week when school is not in session, 14- and 15-year-olds may work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. When school is in session, the limits drop to 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in the week. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds have no federal hours limits but cannot do hazardous work. State law is often stricter, and when federal and state rules both apply, you follow the stricter one.
This guide sets out the federal rules from the Department of Labor, how they play out across a typical December and January schedule, and the checks to make before a teenager’s first shift.
The Federal Rules at a Glance
The Department of Labor’s Fact Sheet 43 on child labor in nonagricultural jobs sets the baseline under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
| Rule | Ages 14 and 15 | Ages 16 and 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Hours on a school day (including Fridays) | No more than 3 | No federal limit |
| Hours on a non-school day | No more than 8 | No federal limit |
| Hours in a school week | No more than 18 | No federal limit |
| Hours in a non-school week | No more than 40 | No federal limit |
| Time of day | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) | No federal limit |
| During school hours | Not permitted | No federal limit |
| Type of work | Certain non-manufacturing, non-hazardous jobs only | Any job not declared hazardous |
The basic minimum age for employment is 16. Children under 14 generally cannot work in covered nonagricultural jobs, apart from exempt work such as newspaper delivery or acting, and minor chores and casual babysitting.
The 7 p.m. Rule Is the One Employers Break
The summer extension to 9 p.m. applies only from June 1 through Labor Day. In December the cut-off for 14- and 15-year-olds is 7 p.m., which is exactly when many stores, cinemas and restaurants are busiest. A closing shift, or even a shift that “finishes at 7 but we always need help cleaning up,” is a violation.
Build the cut-off into the schedule rather than relying on supervisors to remember. If your scheduling software allows age-based rules, set them. If not, flag every minor’s name on the rota and have the manager on duty confirm they clocked out on time.
How the Rules Play Out Over the Holidays
Thanksgiving week
If school is in session for part of the week, plan as though the school-week limits apply: no more than 18 hours, and 3 hours on school days. On the days off, a 14- or 15-year-old can work up to 8 hours, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
December school weeks
Most of December is school time. Teen staff can cover after-school and weekend shifts within the 3-hour school-day and 18-hour weekly limits. Saturday and Sunday are non-school days, so up to 8 hours each, but the weekly 18-hour cap still applies in a school week.
Winter break
A week with no school at all is a non-school week: up to 40 hours, 8 hours a day, and still nothing after 7 p.m. Check the actual school calendar for each young worker rather than assuming every district breaks on the same dates.
January
Once school restarts, the school-week limits return immediately. Teenagers who were working 35 hours over the break must drop back to 18 or fewer.
What 14- and 15-Year-Olds Can and Cannot Do
Fact Sheet 43 limits 14- and 15-year-olds to certain non-manufacturing, non-hazardous jobs. In practice, retail floor work, cashiering, bagging, shelf stocking, greeting and many front-of-house roles are typical. Before assigning anything involving machinery, cooking equipment, ladders, vehicles or heavy loads, check the DOL’s detailed occupation rules; many of these tasks are restricted for this age group.
If you run a cinema or entertainment venue, roles like the ones described in netmentors.com’s profile of ushers, lobby attendants and ticket takers are a common first job for younger teens. They still have to fit within the hours and time-of-day limits.
16- and 17-Year-Olds
Under federal law, 16- and 17-year-olds may work unlimited hours in any occupation not declared hazardous. They are barred from the 17 Hazardous Occupations Orders, which include work such as operating power-driven hoisting equipment, roofing, most logging and sawmill work, and trenching and excavation. There are narrow exceptions, such as 17-year-olds driving cars or small trucks under strict conditions.
The federal rules do not require work permits or set daily hour limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, but Fact Sheet 43 notes that many states do. A 17-year-old may be free to close the store under federal law and still be limited by your state.
State Law: Check It Before You Schedule
Fact Sheet 43 says federal and state youth employment laws both apply, and when both cover a situation, the stricter standard must be followed. State rules commonly add:
- Work permits or age certificates
- Daily and weekly hours limits for 16- and 17-year-olds
- Earlier evening cut-offs on school nights
- Required meal or rest breaks for minors
- Additional prohibited tasks
Your state labor department’s youth employment page is the place to confirm these before the first shift.
Pay and Paperwork
Teen employees are employees. They complete the same new-hire paperwork as adults, including Form I-9 and Form W-4, and are owed at least the minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, and the DOL notes that some states provide greater protections and employers must comply with both. Overtime rules apply to non-exempt minors exactly as they do to adults.
Keep a record of each minor’s date of birth. In a dispute or an inspection, being able to show you knew each worker’s age and scheduled accordingly is the starting point.
A Pre-Shift Checklist for Teen Hires
- Confirm date of birth and keep proof on file.
- Obtain any state work permit before the first shift.
- Check the young worker’s school calendar for the season.
- Set scheduling rules for daily, weekly and time-of-day limits.
- List the tasks they may and may not do, and brief their supervisor.
- Give a safety orientation on the first day. Our onboarding guide can be shortened for seasonal hires.
- Audit time records weekly during the season.
For the wider picture of holiday staffing, see our guide to hiring seasonal and holiday temp workers, and our explainer on whether employers must pay holiday pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can a 15-year-old work during winter break?
Under federal law, up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week in a week when school is not in session, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. State law may set lower limits.
Can a 14-year-old work until 9 p.m. in December?
No. The 9 p.m. extension applies only from June 1 through Labor Day. The rest of the year, 14- and 15-year-olds must finish by 7 p.m.
Do 16-year-olds have hour limits?
Not under federal law, which allows unlimited hours in non-hazardous jobs. Many states set their own limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, so check your state rules.
Do I need a work permit to hire a teenager?
Federal law does not require one, but many states do. Check your state labor department before the first shift.
Do minimum wage rules apply to teenage employees?
Yes. Minors are covered employees, and the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Some states set a higher rate, and the Department of Labor says employers must comply with both federal and state law. Check your state’s rules on youth wages before setting pay.