If your teen has a summer job lined up, you’re likely proud and maybe a little relieved. You probably aren’t thinking about the possibility that they could be seriously injured. Most teens work in relatively low-risk workplaces like restaurants, stores, hospitality venues and movie theaters. There are laws in place limiting the kinds of work that minors can do as well as working hours and conditions.
That doesn’t mean, however, that they can’t suffer injuries – sometimes serious ones. Teens are often more likely to be injured at work than their adult co-workers. Because they tend to work part-time and/or seasonally, employers too often don’t provide them with the same safety training as full-time employees.
Teens may be uniquely vulnerable to workplace injuries
According to Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), “Employers should be aware that with the flexibility of employing minors in the workplace comes added responsibility of close supervision.” Too often, that doesn’t happen.
Further, teens are often eager to please, especially in their first jobs, so they’ll take on potentially dangerous tasks that older workers don’t want to do. They may take more risks on their own – like climbing on ladders without someone to spot them or lifting heavy boxes without proper support. If they are injured, they may be more likely to just slap a bandage on it or “walk it off,” without realizing how serious it is.
Many teens have never even heard of workers’ compensation – let alone realize that they’re entitled to it. They may believe that if they file a claim, their hours will be cut – or they’ll lose their job completely. It’s important to know that employers cannot legally retaliate against any employee for filing a valid workers’ comp claim.
Employers who know they’re violating Florida’s child labor laws may tell them that they can’t get workers’ comp because they are employed in violation of the law. The fact is, however, that, as the FBPR states, under Florida law, “if an injured minor is employed in violation of any provisions of the child labor laws of Florida, an employer may be subject to up to double the compensation otherwise payable under…Florida Workers’ Compensation law.”
If your teen suffers a workplace-related injury or illness, it’s important to know that workers’ comp can cover their medical care and potentially a portion of their pay if they have to take time off work. Both teens and their parents should know their rights. Having legal guidance may be necessary to effectively assert those rights.