# Hiring minors at a restaurant in Virginia (2026)

*Guides · Mays Team · October 23, 2026*

![The Transfers page in Mays: three stock transfers out to an Uptown location on October 5, 2026, one still a draft and two posted, each with its number of items](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/blog__hiring-minors-restaurant-virginia-2026__cover.e6c007aed0.png)

In Virginia, hiring a 14- or 15-year-old starts with the state, not the school: the Department of Labor and Industry issues their employment certificate, and they can't start before you have it. Virginia's hours limits match the federal ones and stop at 15, but its kitchen rules are stricter, and a 14- or 15-year-old may not cook in most restaurant kitchens.

This page is about hiring teenagers in Virginia: the youngest age you can hire, how long and how late 14- to 17-year-olds may work, work permits, breaks, the kitchen jobs they can't do, posters, two example weeks checked against every limit, and what Mays checks for you. Wages, tips and overtime are on [Virginia restaurant pay rules (2026)](https://www.mays.app/blog/virginia-restaurant-pay-rules-2026); they apply to teenagers too, and this page adds only what is different for them.

**Checked October 5, 2026:** every figure on this page was read on its official source; the Sources list at the end gives the date of each check.

*This is general information, not legal advice. Whether a rule applies can depend on your business's size and your own facts; the note at the end says more.*

## Federal and Virginia law: follow the stricter one

Two sets of child labor rules can apply to a restaurant in Virginia: the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Virginia's own law. Where the state law is less strict, the federal law applies, and where the state law is stricter, the state law applies ([US DOL, state child labor](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor)). The FLSA covers a business with at least two employees and annual sales of at least $500,000 ([DOL Fact Sheet #14](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/14-flsa-coverage)), and it can cover workers at a smaller one individually, when their work regularly involves trade between states.

Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry says the same: where both federal and state laws cover an aspect of child labor, the most stringent of the two applies ([Virginia DOLI, youth employment](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/)).

## Virginia at a glance

| Rule | Virginia |
| --- | --- |
| Youngest age for restaurant work | 14 |
| Employment certificate | Required under 16, from the state Department of Labor and Industry ([Virginia DOLI, youth employment](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/)) |
| 14–15, school day | 3 hours, 18 a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (the federal limits, which Virginia adopts) |
| 16–17 | No hours limits under Virginia or federal law ([Virginia DOLI, labor laws](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/virginia-labor-laws/)) |
| Lunch break | Under 16: see Breaks below |
| Serving alcohol | From 18; mixing drinks as a bartender from 21 ([Va. Code § 4.1-307](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title4.1/chapter3/section4.1-307/)) |

## How young can you hire?

Under federal law, 14 is the youngest age for restaurant work ([29 CFR 570.2](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.2)).

Virginia sets the same minimum: a child under 14 may work only in the few jobs its law lists, such as delivering newspapers ([Va. Code § 40.1-78](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-78/); [16VAC15-30-210](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section210/)).

## Hours for 14- and 15-year-olds

| Limit | Federal | Virginia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hours on a school day | 3 ([29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)) | 3 ([16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)) |
| Hours in a school week | 18 ([29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)) | 18 ([16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)) |
| Hours on a day with no school | 8 ([29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)) | 8 ([16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)) |
| Hours in a week with no school | 40 ([29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)) | 40 ([16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)) |
| Days a week | No federal limit | No state limit |
| Time of day | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day ([29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)) | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day ([16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)) |
| During school hours | Not allowed ([29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)) | Not allowed, except in a school work-training program ([16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)) |

Virginia's law tells its labor department to copy the federal hours for under-16s ([Va. Code § 40.1-80.1](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-80.1/)), so at this age the two columns match and one set of numbers covers both.

## Hours for 16- and 17-year-olds

Virginia doesn't limit the hours of 16- and 17-year-olds: its labor department says hours limits and breaks apply only to employees under 16 ([Virginia DOLI, labor laws](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/virginia-labor-laws/)). With no federal hours limits either, only the jobs list below limits them.

## Work permits and age certificates

Every worker under 16 needs an employment certificate on file before they start ([Va. Code § 40.1-84](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-84/)), and Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry issues it, not the school ([Va. Code § 40.1-92](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-92/)). The teen applies once they have a firm job offer, through the state's electronic employment certificate system, where the teen, you and a parent or guardian each register ([Virginia DOLI, youth employment](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/)). Your part states the job, the hours a day and days a week, the lunch period, and that you have checked the teen's age ([Va. Code § 40.1-93](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-93/)).

The department generally reviews an application within 24 hours and issues the certificate to you; it becomes valid only once the teen signs it ([Virginia DOLI, youth employment](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/)). It covers only the employer and the job it names ([Va. Code § 40.1-96](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-96/)). Keep a copy for as long as the teen works for you, or 36 months if that is longer ([Va. Code § 40.1-96](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-96/)), and keep the proof of age on file ([Va. Code § 40.1-93](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-93/)).

At 16 and 17, no certificate is needed. You or the teen can ask the department for an age certificate, which then counts as conclusive proof of their age under Virginia labor law ([Va. Code § 40.1-104](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-104/)).

Federal law itself doesn't require work permits ([DOL Fact Sheet #43](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)). An age certificate on file protects you from unknowingly hiring someone too young, and the federal rules suggest getting one whenever a teen says they are only a year or two over the minimum age for the job ([29 CFR 570.5](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.5)).

## Breaks for minors

Virginia: A child under 16 can't work more than 5 hours in a row without a lunch period of at least 30 minutes, and a break shorter than 30 minutes doesn't interrupt those 5 hours. There's no separate rule for 16- and 17-year-olds ([Va. Code § 40.1-80.1](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-80.1/)).

Virginia's labor department confirms that the break is owed only to workers under 16: from 16, no break or meal period is required ([Virginia DOLI, labor laws](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/virginia-labor-laws/)).

Federal law doesn't require meal or rest breaks at any age ([DOL Fact Sheet #43](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture)).

## Jobs minors can't do in your restaurant

Some jobs are off limits whatever the hours. Under federal law, no one under 18 may do these ([DOL Fact Sheet #2A](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/2a-child-labor-restaurants)):

- Meat or deli slicer, meat grinder, patty former ([29 CFR 570.61](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.61))
- Dough or batter mixer, dough sheeter or brake ([29 CFR 570.62](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.62))
- Cardboard baler or trash compactor ([29 CFR 570.63](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.63))
- Delivery driving ([29 CFR 570.52](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.52))

And 14- and 15-year-olds also may not do these:

- Baking ([29 CFR 570.33](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33))
- Cooking other than on an electric or gas grill with no open flame, or a fryer that lowers and raises its baskets automatically ([29 CFR 570.33](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33))
- Power-driven food slicers, grinders, choppers, processors, cutters or mixers ([29 CFR 570.33](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33))
- Work in freezers or meat coolers (more than stepping in to fetch an item) ([29 CFR 570.33](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33))
- Ladders or scaffolds ([29 CFR 570.33](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33))
- Filtering, pouring or carrying hot oil or grease above 100 °F ([29 CFR 570.34](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.34))
- Loading or unloading trucks ([29 CFR 570.33](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33))

### Virginia's own rules

- Under 16: no cooking or baking, except at a soda fountain, lunch counter, snack bar or cafeteria serving counter; no running, setting up or cleaning power-driven food slicers, grinders, choppers, cutters or bakery-type mixers; no work in freezers and meat coolers; and no work on ladders or scaffolds ([16VAC15-30-230](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section230/)). Virginia has no exception for grills or automatic fryers, so a 14- or 15-year-old stays off the line in most restaurant kitchens.
- Under 16: no curb service at a restaurant and no hotel or motel room service ([16VAC15-30-220](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section220/)).
- Under 18: no work in a place where alcohol is sold for drinking on the premises, unless the alcohol sales are merely incidental to the main business ([Va. Code § 40.1-100](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-100/); [16VAC15-30-200](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section200/)). A bar, where drinks are the business, can't employ them.
- Alcohol: no one under 18 may sell, serve or pour alcoholic drinks for on-premises consumption, and mixing drinks as a bartender takes 21 ([Va. Code § 4.1-307](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title4.1/chapter3/section4.1-307/)).

## Pay: the minimum wage, youth rates and tips

Virginia's minimum wage law doesn't count two groups of teens as employees: anyone under 16, whoever employs them, and a teen under 18 enrolled full-time in a secondary school, college or trade school who works no more than 20 hours a week ([Va. Code § 40.1-28.9](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter3/section40.1-28.9/)). The state minimum doesn't reach them; at a restaurant the FLSA covers, the federal minimum wage does, and so can the federal youth wage below. Every other teen earns at least the state minimum.

Virginia has no youth rate, but it has a training wage for new workers of any age: for the first 90 calendar days in an on-the-job training program for a job they have no experience in, at least 75% of the Virginia minimum wage or the federal minimum, whichever is greater. The program has to meet the state's conditions, among them a written description of the training, and it can't be used to displace other workers ([16VAC15-60-20](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter60/section20/)).

Federal law lets an employer pay $4.25 an hour to a worker under 20 during their first 90 consecutive calendar days on the job, but not to push out other workers, and not where a state or local law requires more and makes no exception for workers under 20 ([DOL Fact Sheet #32](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/32-minimum-wage-youth)).

Everything else about pay, from the tipped cash wage to tip pools and overtime, is on [Virginia restaurant pay rules (2026)](https://www.mays.app/blog/virginia-restaurant-pay-rules-2026).

## Posters and records

Every employer the federal minimum wage law covers must display the federal poster, *Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act*, where employees can readily read it; it includes a section on child labor ([US DOL, FLSA poster](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/posters/flsa)).

Virginia has no state poster about minors: none of the state posters its labor department lists as required is about them ([Virginia DOLI, posters](https://doli.virginia.gov/resources/required-posters/)). For each worker under 16, keep time records with the start and end of work each day and the free-from-duty meal period, and keep each teen's most recent 12 months of records on the premises for 36 months after their last recorded shift ([Va. Code § 40.1-81.1](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-81.1/)). In an inspection you must be able to show the time records, proof of age and signed certificate of every youth worker ([Virginia DOLI, youth employment](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/)).

## Two example weeks

Two made-up schedules for a week in October, when school is in session Monday to Friday: Maya, 15, and Leo, 17. Each line under a schedule is a limit from this page, and the week stays inside every one of them.

### Maya, 15, in a school week

| Day | Shift | Unpaid break | Hours | School day? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monday | Off |  |  | Yes |
| Tuesday | 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | None | 3 | Yes |
| Wednesday | Off |  |  | Yes |
| Thursday | 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | None | 3 | Yes |
| Friday | Off |  |  | Yes |
| Saturday | 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | 30 minutes at 1 p.m. | 6 | No |
| Sunday | Noon to 4:30 p.m. | None | 4.5 | No |

That's 16.5 hours over 4 days. How the week measures up:

- Longest school day: 3 hours; the limit is 3 (federal, [29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)).
- The week: 16.5 hours; the limit is 18 (federal, [29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)).
- Earliest start: 10 a.m.; not before 7 a.m. (federal, [29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)).
- Latest finish: 7 p.m.; not after 7 p.m. (federal, [29 CFR 570.35](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35)).
- Longest school day: 3 hours; the limit is 3 (Virginia, [16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)).
- The week: 16.5 hours; the limit is 18 (Virginia, [16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)).
- Earliest start: 10 a.m.; not before 7 a.m. (Virginia, [16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)).
- Latest finish: 7 p.m.; not after 7 p.m. (Virginia, [16VAC15-40-30](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/)).
- Longest stretch without a break: 4.5 hours; the limit is 5 (Virginia, [Va. Code § 40.1-80.1](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-80.1/)).

### Leo, 17, in a school week

| Day | Shift | Unpaid break | Hours | School day? |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monday | Off |  |  | Yes |
| Tuesday | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | None | 4 | Yes |
| Wednesday | Off |  |  | Yes |
| Thursday | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | None | 4 | Yes |
| Friday | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | None | 4 | Yes |
| Saturday | 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | 30 minutes at 2 p.m. | 8 | No |
| Sunday | Off |  |  | No |

That's 20 hours over 4 days. How the week measures up:

- No federal or Virginia hours limit applies at 17; only the jobs list above does.

## How Mays handles this

Mays builds the schedule, runs the time clock and keeps each person's details for every location. For teenagers in Virginia:

- **Turn on minors' rules per location.** Work rules for minors are part of Labor law compliance: switch on **Minors (under 18)** on the location's Labor & compliance card. Mays then works out each person's age on every shift date from their date of birth.
- **The federal limits, and Virginia marked "Not checked yet".** Mays checks the federal limits everywhere. Virginia's own limits aren't built into Mays yet: the location's card lists Virginia as **Not checked yet**, so check the Virginia rules on this page yourself, above all the ones stricter than federal law.
- **Warnings on the schedule, never a block.** A shift that breaks a limit is outlined with **Minor rule**, each minor's row shows their age band and the week's hours against their limit, and the warnings before publishing name the law. You can still publish.
- **The auto-scheduler stays inside the limits.** It never puts a minor on a shift that would break one of their limits: it gives the shift to someone else or leaves it open, and tells you why.
- **Tasks by position.** Give a position a minimum age and tick the federal tasks it involves, such as a meat slicer or delivery driving. A minor scheduled in it gets a warning, and the auto-scheduler won't put them there.
- **School days from a calendar.** By default Mays counts Monday to Friday as school days from the day after Labor Day through May, with school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can add your school district's own calendar, breaks included.
- **Hours across every location.** A teen who works at two of your locations is held to one weekly limit, because the limits apply per employer.
- **What Mays doesn't check yet:** minors' meal breaks, work permits and clock-ins. Keep the permits on file yourself, and schedule the breaks above.

How to set it up: [Scheduling minors](https://www.mays.app/help/scheduling/scheduling-minors).

## Sources

Every figure on this page comes from these official pages, as they read on the date shown.

- [US Department of Labor, state child labor standards](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/child-labor), checked October 5, 2026
- [US Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #14: coverage under the FLSA](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/14-flsa-coverage), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia DOLI, youth employment](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/youth-employment/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia DOLI, Virginia labor laws](https://doli.virginia.gov/programs/labor-law/virginia-labor-laws/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 4.1-307](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title4.1/chapter3/section4.1-307/), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.2 (minimum age standards)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.2), checked September 24, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-78](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-78/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia Administrative Code, 16VAC15-30-210 (minors under 14)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section210/), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.35 (hours for 14- and 15-year-olds)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.35), checked September 24, 2026
- [Virginia Administrative Code, 16VAC15-40-30 (hours of work for minors)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter40/section30/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-80.1](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-80.1/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-84](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-84/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-92](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-92/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-93](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-93/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-96](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-96/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-104](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-104/), checked October 5, 2026
- [US Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #43: child labor provisions for nonagricultural occupations](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/43-child-labor-non-agriculture), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.5 (certificates of age)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.5), checked October 5, 2026
- [US Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #2A: child labor rules for restaurants](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/2a-child-labor-restaurants), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.61 (Hazardous Occupations Order 10: meat slicers and processing machines)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.61), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.62 (Hazardous Occupations Order 11: bakery machines)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.62), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.63 (Hazardous Occupations Order 12: balers and compactors)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.63), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.52 (Hazardous Occupations Order 2: driving)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.52), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.33 (jobs barred at 14 and 15)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.33), checked October 5, 2026
- [29 CFR 570.34 (jobs allowed at 14 and 15)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/section-570.34), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia Administrative Code, 16VAC15-30-230 (14- and 15-year-olds in food service)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section230/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia Administrative Code, 16VAC15-30-220 (14- and 15-year-olds)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section220/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-100](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-100/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia Administrative Code, 16VAC15-30-200 (other prohibited occupations)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter30/section200/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-28.9](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter3/section40.1-28.9/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia Administrative Code, 16VAC15-60-20 (training wage)](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title16/agency15/chapter60/section20/), checked October 5, 2026
- [US Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #32: youth minimum wage](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/32-minimum-wage-youth), checked October 5, 2026
- [US Department of Labor, the FLSA minimum wage poster](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/posters/flsa), checked October 5, 2026
- [Virginia DOLI, required workplace posters](https://doli.virginia.gov/resources/required-posters/), checked October 5, 2026
- [Code of Virginia § 40.1-81.1](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title40.1/chapter5/section40.1-81.1/), checked October 5, 2026

*This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, and coverage rules (your business's size, whether federal law covers you, a teen's schooling) decide which of them apply. Check the pages above, and ask an employment lawyer about your situation.*

## Schedule teenagers without the guesswork

Add each teen's date of birth, turn on minors' rules for the location, and Mays warns you before a shift runs too long or too late.

[**Start your free trial**](https://go.mays.app/register): 30 days, every module, no card needed.

## Related help articles

- Scheduling: [Scheduling minors](https://www.mays.app/help/scheduling/scheduling-minors) — Turn on work rules for minors at a location (part of Labor law compliance), and Mays checks the hours and times of anyone under 18 against federal and state law. You get warnings on the schedule, and the auto-scheduler stays inside the limits. Nothing is ever blocked.
- Time clock: [Labor & compliance (per location)](https://www.mays.app/help/time-clock/labor-compliance) — Where: Locations & Users → Locations → a location → Scheduling tab → Labor & compliance card.
- Scheduling: [Positions and wages](https://www.mays.app/help/scheduling/positions-and-wages) — Create the jobs people work — Barista, Cashier, Line Cook — with a colour and a default hourly wage, give people their positions and pay, and see where Mays uses them.
- Team & roles: [Add and invite team members](https://www.mays.app/help/team-roles/add-team-members) — Add people on the web or from the app. Employees get a text with a link to the app; managers and admins get an email to set a password. Plus resending invites and checking delivery.
- Scheduling: [Building the weekly schedule](https://www.mays.app/help/scheduling/build-the-schedule) — Build a location's week on the web — add, move, copy and edit shifts, add open shifts, and keep an eye on time off, availability and labor cost while you work.

Canonical: https://www.mays.app/blog/hiring-minors-restaurant-virginia-2026