On December 3rd, Governor DeWine vetoed Senate Bill 50. The legislation would have permitted 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on school nights – two hours later than the current law allows. In his veto message, the Governor emphasized that the decision was made in the public interest.
While some argued that the revised legislation would help businesses and provide additional opportunities to teach teens responsibility, others saw it as a dangerous weakening of Ohio’s child labor protections. Opponents cited research showing that late-night work on school nights harms academic performance, causes stress, disrupts sleep, and contributes to other mental-health challenges such as depression. Prevailing arguments also addressed concerns that teens were being inappropriately presented as a solution to Ohio’s labor shortage.
As a result of the veto, Ohio’s child labor laws will remain unchanged. Permissible working hours depend greatly on whether school is in session. Minors, ages 14-15, may not work more than 3 hours per school day or more than 18 hours per week and those hours are limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. In addition, they may not work more than 8 hours during a day when school is not in session or 40 hours per week. Those hours are also limited to 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
If you would like to learn more about Ohio’s child labor laws and teen employment requirements, Campanella Law Office has covered the topic in a previous blog post that provides guidance to help your small business stay compliant.
(This blog, prepared by Campanella Law Office, is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to convey specific legal advice, nor is it intended to create or constitute an attorney-client relationship.)