Fourteen-year-olds in Tennessee can legally enter the workforce, but their employment is governed by regulations designed to protect their education and well-being. Employers must navigate strict state and federal labor laws that limit the type of work permitted, the hours scheduled, and the administrative steps required before a minor can begin work. Securing a position depends on the minor’s readiness and the employer’s compliance with these specific statutes.
Understanding Tennessee’s Child Labor Laws
The employment of minors in Tennessee is regulated by the Tennessee Child Labor Act of 1976 (T.C.A. § 50-5-101 et seq.) and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). If state and federal laws conflict, employers must adhere to the provision that is more protective of the minor. The state law establishes a minimum age of 14 for most non-agricultural employment, ensuring work does not compromise a minor’s health, safety, or education. Employers face civil and criminal penalties for violating rules concerning hours, occupations, and documentation.
Types of Work 14-Year-Olds Can Legally Perform
Fourteen-year-olds are restricted to performing light, non-hazardous tasks, primarily in the service and retail sectors. Duties must be clearly delineated to ensure they do not involve prohibited machinery or dangerous environments. This limitation steers minors toward entry-level positions focused on customer interaction and administrative support.
Permitted work often involves cashiering, bagging, and assembling customer orders in retail. In food service, minors can work as hosts, bussers, or dining room attendants, but they are prohibited from performing most cooking or baking activities.
Specific Employers and Industries Known to Hire 14-Year-Olds
The most common employers of 14-year-olds are businesses with high customer traffic and a need for entry-level support staff. These companies have established compliance procedures to manage the labor restrictions for minors. Hiring is often decentralized, meaning the willingness to hire is determined by local management.
Retail and Grocery Stores
Many large retail chains and local grocery stores frequently hire minors for roles involving light physical and clerical tasks. Positions include stocking shelves, retrieving shopping carts, and bagging groceries. Stores like Food City or major national retail establishments may offer positions such as junior stylist or seasonal team member.
Restaurants and Food Service (Non-Cooking Roles)
The fast-food and fast-casual dining industries are a major source of employment for 14-year-olds, provided the roles do not involve prohibited tasks. National chains such as Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Burger King, and Panera Bread commonly hire minors for positions like crew member or cashier. In full-service establishments, minors can often be hired as dishwashers or utility bussers.
Entertainment and Recreational Facilities
Entertainment complexes and seasonal recreational facilities often seek young workers for short-term and part-time positions. Theme parks like Dollywood hire 14-year-olds for roles such as turnstile operators, tolls attendants, or photography operations hosts. Day camp organizations sometimes offer Counselor-in-Training positions for teenagers at the minimum working age.
Office and Clerical Work
Office environments offer opportunities for non-manual labor that falls within the legal scope of work for 14-year-olds. These roles are limited to filing documents, running errands, operating office machines like copiers, and answering phones. While less common than retail or food service, small local businesses and professional offices may occasionally hire a minor for basic administrative assistance.
Essential Requirements for 14-Year-Old Workers
Before a 14-year-old can legally begin employment, the employer must fulfill specific documentation requirements. Tennessee does not mandate a state-issued work permit or Employment Certificate for minors. Instead, the law requires employers to keep proof of the minor’s age on file at the work location.
Acceptable forms of proof include a birth certificate, a driver’s license, a state-issued identification card, or a passport copy. Parental or guardian consent is also required for the minor to be hired.
Strict Limitations on Working Hours
State and federal laws impose precise limitations on when 14-year-olds can be scheduled to work. These restrictions prioritize the minor’s education and are divided based on whether school is in session. During the school year, a 14-year-old may only work outside of school hours, with a maximum of three hours per day.
The weekly limit is 18 hours. Work is generally prohibited before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. When school is not in session, the daily limit expands to eight hours, and the weekly maximum increases to 40 hours. During this non-school period, work is allowed until 9:00 p.m.
Occupations Prohibited for 14-Year-Olds
To protect minors from hazard, Tennessee law explicitly prohibits 14-year-olds from performing a lengthy list of occupations. Prohibitions focus on hazardous work, including any duties involving power-driven machinery, such as meat slicers, commercial mixers, or power saws. This rule extends to operating motor vehicles or serving as an outside helper on a vehicle.
Minors are also barred from working in manufacturing, mining, or processing occupations. Specific work environments, such as construction, boiler or engine rooms, and public messenger services, are off-limits.