US Department of Labor to offer free webinars in May providing compliance assistance on youth employment ahead of summer hiring season

ATLANTA - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is hosting a webinar series in May to provide information and resources on how to comply with regulations affecting youth employment, ahead of the summer hiring season.

Employers, young workers, parents, school counselors, and human resources specialists are invited to attend the webinars to learn about federal protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act that govern youth employment.

During the seminars, representatives from the division will explain the jobs and tasks off-limits for anyone under 18-years-old, explain how young workers can have safe and rewarding work experiences, share how many hours youth are legally permitted to work, and offer information on the child labor laws in each of the state-specific seminars. Attendance is free, but registration is required for all events.

In addition, division representatives will provide information about tools available for employers to understand their obligations, should they choose to hire youth, and share the division's free compliance assistance toolkits.

State-specific youth employment webinars will be hosted on the following days:

• Kentucky (May 12)
• Tennessee (May 13)
• Alabama and Mississippi (May 14)
• Georgia (May 19)
• North and South Carolina (May 20)
• Florida (May 21)

In fiscal year 2025, the department investigated 976 cases with child labor violations that affected 5,272 children nationwide. The department addressed those violations by assessing employers more than $37.2 million in civil money penalties.

The Department of Labor's YouthRules initiative provides information about protections for young workers to youth, parents, employers, and educators. Through this initiative, the department and its partners promote work experiences that help prepare young workers to enter the workforce. The Wage and Hour Division has also published Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers to help employers comply with the law.

Employers and workers can call the division with questions and requests for compliance assistance through the agency's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Download the agency's free Timesheet App for iOS and Android devices to track hours and pay.