Looking into labor laws: minimum wages and child labor
Workers covered under the Federal Labor Standards Act are entitled to the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. And, should you be paying that low in your practice, you can't deduct money from wages for such items as cash or merchandise shortages, uniforms, and other tools of the trade if those reductions put the employee's wages below the minimum wage or reduce the amount of overtime pay due.
Workers covered under the Federal Labor Standards Act are entitled to the minimum wage of $5.15 per hour. And, should you be paying that low in your practice, you can't deduct money from wages for such items as cash or merchandise shortages, uniforms, and other tools of the trade if those reductions put the employee's wages below the minimum wage or reduce the amount of overtime pay due.
When you hire a young worker, you also need to consider child labor laws. In addition to federal child labor laws, all states have their own regulations. When the rules vary, you should follow the guidelines that provide the most protection to young workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Web site. To check your state's child labor laws, visit www.dol.gov/esa/programs/whd/state/state.htm .
