Wage and Hour Bulletin

November 2024

Youth employment during the holidays With the holiday season upon us, businesses often face extended hours to accommodate the increase in shopping. This impacts both employees and employers, especially in retail. To help, we've answered common questions about holiday pay and workers' rights. Reviewing these guidelines can help your business comply with Minnesota labor laws during this holiday season. Youth employment hours In Minnesota, there are specific regulations on the hours and types of work that minors (ages 14-17) can do. For those under 16: Work hours are limited to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (or 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1 under federal law). They cannot work over eight hours in a single day or 24-hour period (or more than three hours on school days under federal law). A maximum of 40 hours per week is allowed when school is out, and no more than 18 hours per week during the school term. Workers age 16 or 17: Work cannot begin before 5 a.m. on school days. They should finish work by 11 p.m. on nights before school. With parental consent, they may start work at 4:30 a.m. or work until 11:30 p.m. on nights before a school day. Learn more at dli.mn.gov/child-labor.

Unclaimed back-wages The Department of Labor and Industry's (DLI's) Labor Standards Division has helped many workers get unpaid wages. So far, in 2024, Labor Standards handled 936 claims, recovering nearly $925,000 in wages. If you believe you're owed back-wages, visit the Minnesota Unclaimed Property site or contact DLI at [email protected] or 651-284-5075.

St. Paul wage theft ordinance

The city of St. Paul approved a wage theft ordinance. The ordinance, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, allows the city to investigate wage theft under state and federal wage and hour laws. For more information:

• Visit St. Paul's wage theft page.
• Read St. Paul news release.

News release:  DLI investigation finds Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. Illegally employed minor children, company will pay $2 million penalty

DLI has entered into a consent order with Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. to resolve a child labor compliance order DLI issued to the company. The consent order requires Smithfield to pay a $2 million administrative penalty, the largest penalty DLI has recovered in a child labor enforcement action. The order also requires Smithfield to: conduct industry outreach related to child labor compliance; contractually require child labor compliance with its labor staffing agencies and sanitation contractors; and take other significant steps to ensure future child labor compliance.

• Read the complete release.

Question of the month

Do employees start accruing earned sick and safe time (ESST) before or after they have worked their first 80 hours for an employer?

• ESST accrual begins immediately when an employee starts working for an employer. The ESST law change clarifies that employees anticipated to work at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in Minnesota are covered by the ESST law. For more information, visit sickleave.mn.gov.

Contact us

Contact us with wage and hour questions at 651-284-5075 or [email protected]. Email [email protected] with questions about earned sick and safe time.

Wage and Hour Bulletin archive

Find past editions of The Wage and Hour Bulletin.

Questions?

Labor Standards serves the people of Minnesota by providing
information about the state's wage, hour and employment laws.

Phone:  651-284-5075 or 800-342-5354
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  dli.mn.gov