Effective today, December 11, 2020, the State of Minnesota will start processing and allowing unemployment compensation applications from high school students. While state law has not allowed high school students unemployment compensation since 1998, the Minnesota Court of Appeals recently held that they are eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). This is federal monies as
Child & Teen Labor
DOL – Closed Schools Are In Session When Virtual Learning Takes Place – Usually
On June 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Field Assistance Bulletin No. 2020-3, clarifying that, for purposes of federal child labor laws (which dictate hours of work for minors), schools that are “closed” for COVID-19 are “in session” so long as the child is required to participate in virtual or distance learning.…
Putting Minors to Work this Summer? MNDOLI Issues Wage and Hour Bulletin Reminding Employers of Teen Labor Laws
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s (MnDOLI) May 31, 2018 Wage and Hour Bulletin reminds employers of teen working limitations, as schools are ending for the summer. Although I wrote about this topic recently in this blog post, as the teens start to flood the summer marketplace, I thought it important to share (and…
The Teens Are Coming The Teens Are Coming!
It’s that time of year again. March Madness, spring break, and teens that are looking forward to summer and getting a job, or working extra hours at their current job during spring break. What does this mean as a Minnesota employer?
Wages – The youth wage rate is (as of January 1, 2018) $7.87/hr. for…
To Pay or Not to Pay – DOL Clarifies Factors for Internship Programs Under FLSA
The DOL started 2018 with a bang, adopting the primary beneficiary test in lieu of the previous six-part test for determining whether interns and students are employees for purposes of the FLSA. This is a pretty big deal for employers desiring to use unpaid internships. The decision to adopt the primary beneficiary test comes after…
U.S. DOL Launches New Website To Make It Easy For Employees To Determine If They Have An “Unfairness-On-The-Job Problem” and File A Complaint Electronically
As a result of President Obama’s White House Summit on Worker Voice, on October 28, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Blog announced its new beta website – Worker.gov. This website is, according to the DOL, designed to provide “easy-to-access” solutions for employees who need answers “fast”. The DOL admits that “Even…
Minnesota Employers – Don’t Forget Youth Work Rules Change During the School Year!
Well, summer went by way to fast, and the kids are back in school. I’ve had a few parents of teens mention they cannot believe their kid is being scheduled to work until 10:30 p.m. at night – closing up nonetheless! Is that okay? Depends. Minnesota employers should recall that youth work rules change during…
Prepare For Minnesota’s Minimum Wage Increase August 1, 2016
In the wake of all the hoop-la about the overtime changes, I wanted to post a reminder to our Minnesota employers to prepare now (in your payroll system, personnel records, etc.), for the minimum wage increase effective August 1, 2016, lest you find yourself at the receiving end of a MnDOLI audit or complaint. In…
Eating You Out of House and Home? Parents May Claim Minor’s Wages in Minnesota
As school is out for the summer and teens are hitting the workforce, employers may be asked to turn over the minor’s wages to his or her parent. Is this legal? Yes, according to the Minnesota Payment of Wages Act:
Any parent or guardian claiming the wages of a minor in service shall so notify
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What Hours Can Minnesota Teens Work This Summer?
As kids flock to Valleyfair today, one thing is clear…schools out for summer! [I really need a guitar riff here]. What hours can our teens work? Teens ages 16 and 17 have NO restrictions during the summer! So, schedule away! I’m sure their parents will be more than grateful. However, teens ages 14 and 15 …