Tennessee’s Child Labor Act restricts when and where minors can work.
Navigating minor employment in Tennessee requires strict adherence to state and federal child labor laws. The Tennessee Child Labor Act imposes specific restrictions on working hours, time of day, and occupations deemed hazardous for employees under 18. These regulations are designed to protect minors' health, safety, and educational opportunities.
Minor Employment Rules
Prevents scheduling minors outside legal hours or in prohibited roles.
What those rules do as a Tennessee shift is created.
Teambridge ensures compliance with Tennessee's Child Labor Act by automatically applying restrictions based on employee age. Our system prevents scheduling conflicts and flags potential violations before they occur, keeping your operations compliant and your minor employees safe.
Blocks prohibited hours
Teambridge prevents scheduling employees under 16 during school hours, after 7 PM (or 9 PM in summer), or for more than 3 hours on school days, or 8 hours on non-school days.
Flags hazardous occupations
The system identifies and blocks attempts to schedule minors (especially those under 18) into occupations federally and state-defined as hazardous, such as operating power-driven machinery or working with explosives.
Warns on consecutive days
While not strictly prohibited by TN law, Teambridge will flag scheduling minors for more than six consecutive days, providing an opportunity for employers to review and ensure adequate rest periods.
Stop worrying about Tennessee wage & hour.
Teambridge handles the monitoring and enforcement of minor employment rules, meal breaks, and more, so you don’t have to.
Tennessee's Child Labor Act sets specific limits on minor work.
The Tennessee Child Labor Act, codified under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-5-101 et seq., establishes stringent regulations regarding the employment of minors under 18 years of age. These rules cover maximum working hours, permissible times of day for work, and a list of occupations deemed hazardous and therefore prohibited for minors.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-5-103. Hours of work — Exceptions.
(a) No child under sixteen (16) years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about or in connection with any gainful occupation, except in agricultural pursuits or in domestic service in private homes, for more than six (6) days in any one (1) week, nor more than forty (40) hours in any one (1) week, nor more than eight (8) hours in any one (1) day, nor before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m., except that during the period from June 1 to Labor Day, children under sixteen (16) years of age may be employed until 9:00 p.m.
(b) No child under sixteen (16) years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about or in connection with any gainful occupation for more than three (3) hours on any day in which the public schools are in session, except in agricultural pursuits or in domestic service in private homes.
(c) No child under eighteen (18) years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work in, about or in connection with any gainful occupation for more than six (6) days in any one (1) week, nor more than forty-eight (48) hours in any one (1) week, nor more than ten (10) hours in any one (1) day, except in agricultural pursuits or in domestic service in private homes.
Key Provisions of the Act
The Act differentiates between age groups, with stricter rules for younger minors. For those under 16, work is generally prohibited during school hours, and evening work is limited to 7:00 PM on school nights and 9:00 PM during summer. Total weekly hours are capped at 40, and daily hours at 8. For minors aged 16 and 17, the rules are slightly more flexible but still impose limits on daily (10 hours) and weekly (48 hours) work, and restrict work during school hours unless specific conditions are met.
Prohibited Hazardous Occupations
Both state and federal laws (Fair Labor Standards Act, FLSA) prohibit minors from working in occupations deemed hazardous. These include, but are not limited to, operating certain power-driven machinery, working in mining, manufacturing explosives, or occupations involving significant exposure to radioactive substances. Employers must be diligent in identifying and preventing minors from engaging in such work, regardless of parental consent or school work permits.
Teambridge actively manages Tennessee minor employment rules.
Teambridge's compliance engine is built to handle the complexities of Tennessee's minor employment laws automatically. From scheduling to record-keeping, we ensure your business remains compliant without manual oversight, minimizing risk and freeing up your time.
Employee age verification
During onboarding, Teambridge securely collects and verifies employee birth dates, automatically categorizing individuals as minors and applying relevant state and federal child labor law profiles to their records.
Real-time shift validation
As managers create schedules, Teambridge instantly checks against Tennessee's minor employment rules, blocking shifts that violate hour limits, time-of-day restrictions, or hazardous occupation prohibitions. Warnings are issued for borderline cases.
Automated compliance adjustments
If a minor attempts to clock in outside of their legally permitted hours or for a prohibited shift, Teambridge can be configured to block the clock-in or immediately alert management, preventing violations in real-time.
Audit-ready documentation
Teambridge maintains detailed records of all scheduled and actual work hours for minors, providing comprehensive, easily accessible reports for internal review or in the event of an audit by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
People also ask.
What is the minimum age for employment in Tennessee?
Generally, the minimum age for employment in Tennessee is 14 years old for most non-agricultural occupations, with specific restrictions on hours and types of work. There are exceptions for certain jobs like newspaper delivery or working for parents in their business.
Are there different rules for minors during school breaks?
Yes, for minors under 16, the daily and weekly hour restrictions are slightly relaxed during school breaks. Specifically, they can work until 9:00 PM between June 1 and Labor Day, whereas during the school year, the limit is 7:00 PM.
Do minors need work permits in Tennessee?
No, Tennessee does not require state-issued work permits or employment certificates for minors. However, employers are still responsible for complying with all child labor laws regarding age, hours, and prohibited occupations.
What are some common hazardous occupations prohibited for minors?
Common hazardous occupations prohibited for minors under 18 include operating power-driven machinery (e.g., meat slicers, bakery machinery, woodworking machines), working in excavation, roofing, manufacturing explosives, or occupations involving significant exposure to radioactive substances. For minors under 16, the list is even more extensive.
Are there specific break requirements for minor employees in Tennessee?
While Tennessee law generally requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break for employees working 6 consecutive hours or more, this applies to minors as well. Federal child labor laws also emphasize that breaks must be provided to ensure minor employees are not overworked.
What are the penalties for violating Tennessee's Child Labor Act?
Violations of the Tennessee Child Labor Act can result in civil penalties, including fines, and potentially criminal charges in severe cases. The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) is responsible for enforcing these provisions.