In 1900, a child working in a factory might work 12 to 18 hours a day, six days a week, to earn a dollar. However, this is a thing of the past. In 1938, Congress passed a law called The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
If you are 14 or 15, a work permit is required for you to work in Illinois. Laws protect minors to ensure the workplace is safe and prevents you from neglecting school. The Child Labor Law requires minors, under the age of 16, to complete an Employment Certificate, prohibits working in hazardous jobs, and limits work hours. According to the FLSA, you must be at least:
Some jobs are acceptable for people under 14 and do not require a permit to work. They include:4
Working in agriculture also may not be acceptable. Check out this page for more info if you're interested.
You may be wondering, what kinds of jobs fall under the "dangerous" bullet point above? YouthRules gives a useful list of jobs that are banned for workers under 18. Here's a summary:2
So, how do you go about getting a work permit? If you want to get one, you will need:3
Getting a work permit isn't all that hard, but you'll need to follow instructions carefully. To apply for a permit, follow the instructions on this page.
You will need a prospective employer to complete a "Letter of intent to hire" that mentions the hours you would work. You will need your parent or guardian to go with you to turn in the letter to your school. After your school reviews and verifies the letter, they will fill out an Employment Certificate for Minors, so you can receive a work permit. Learn more on the Illinois Department of Labor's website.
Even if they have a work permit, there are still a few restrictions for 14 and 15-year-old workers. If you are 14 or 15 in the workplace, you:
Questions about the Child Labor Law? You can call (312) 793-5570, email dol.childlaborquestions@illinois.gov or visit this FAQ page.
Employees and employers should be aware of the updates for the One Day Rest in Seven Act (ODRISA) that takes effect January 1st, 2023. This act "gives workers the right to a day of rest every workweek and breaks for meals or rest during daily work shifts". Changes to ODRISA under Public Act 102-0828 and Public Act 102-1012 taking effect on January 1st include:
Employers can learn more with the Illinois Department of Labor's (IDOL) press release, this one page handout with the amendments to ODRISA, and the Required Posters & Disclosures that are required for all Illinois employers.
Sources
1 https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/child-labor/
2 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/youthrules
3 https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/fls/employment-certificates-minors.html