The age requirements for taking a "job" in the United States generally start at 14 years of age. Also, hours are limited for anyone under the age of 16 under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Generally, minimum age requirements do not apply to minors employed by their parents or legal guardian.
However, at any age, youth may deliver newspapers; perform in radio, television, movie, or theatrical productions; work in businesses owned by their parents (except in mining, manufacturing or hazardous jobs); and perform babysitting or perform minor chores around a private home. Also, at any age, youth may be employed as homeworkers to gather evergreens and make evergreen wreaths. Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor
If you are age 14 to 15, you are also limited in the number of hours and when you may work. On the days school is in session, you can work only 3 hours in that day, 18 hours in that week, and only between the hours of 7am and 7pm. However, when school is not in session, such as summer time, you can work up to 40 hours in a week, 8 hours in a day, and 7am to 9pm. You can read the exception to the rules and double check our work at the US Department of Labor's web site.
In the UK, there are rules that regulate what times of the day you can work and for how long.
14 year olds
There are a lot of rules that control working hours of children, but the basic ones are:
- during term time, you can only work for two hours on weekdays and Sundays
- during term time, you can only work for five hours on Saturdays
- during a school holiday, you can work for up to five hours on a week day or a Saturday
- during a school holiday, you can't work for more than two hours on a Sunday
- you cannot work before 7.00 am or after 7.00 pm on any day
15 and 16 year olds
If you're 15 or 16 and are working while you're still at school, your rights are almost identical to those of 14 year olds. However, you are allowed to work for up to eight hours on Saturdays or during the school holidays.
16 and 17 year olds
If you're no longer at school and you're 16 or 17, the law refers to you as a 'young worker'. Because you will no longer be at school, there are fewer restrictions on when you can work and for how long, but there are still some rules.
Because you've reached school leaving age, you may find that employers may be more willing to offer you part-time or full-time employment. You're also not limited to just 'light work', so you'll be allowed to work in places like a busy shop, restaurant kitchen or as a waiter or waitress.
Read more at Direct Gov's Employment Rights for Young People
The rules differ in each of the Provinces of Canada, but generally, here are the standards:
(1) A person must not employ a child under 15 years of age unless the person has obtained the written consent of the child's parent or guardian.
(2) A person must not employ a child under 12 years of age without the director's permission.
(3) On permitting the employment of a child under 12 years of age, the director may set the conditions of employment for the child.
Read more at British Columbia's Employment Standards Act
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