Hiring teenagers at a Pennsylvania restaurant: permits and hours

Teenagers are the backbone of many restaurant crews, especially in summer and in college and resort towns. They are also a legal minefield if you do not know the rules. Pennsylvania has its own Child Labor Act, administered by the Department of Labor and Industry, and federal law applies as well, with the stricter rule winning in each case. This guide, written in October 2026, explains the main areas a restaurant owner has to cover before scheduling a minor: permits, hours, breaks, equipment and pay. It is general information, not legal advice, and it gives no hour limits, because those are the details to confirm with the Department of Labor and Industry before you schedule a minor.

Do minors need a work permit in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania expects minors to hold a work permit before they start, and the permit is normally issued through the school district. Younger workers may also need a signed parental acknowledgment. Ask the Department of Labor and Industry which permit and paperwork apply to the age of each applicant. Ask every teen applicant for a copy of the permit before the first shift, keep it on file and write down the date. A permit for one job may be usable at the next, but you should always see it.

How many hours can a 14 or 15 year old work?

The state and federal rules limit the hours of the youngest workers, and the limits are different during the school year and during vacations. They cover the earliest and latest times of day a minor can work, the hours allowed on a school day and in a school week, and the weekend allowance. Because summaries disagree and the details change with age and season, take the numbers from the Department of Labor and Industry, and pick the cautious reading while you check. Post the limits in the staff room next to the schedule.

What are the rules for 16 and 17 year olds?

Workers aged 16 and 17 have more freedom. They still need a permit and are still subject to some limits, including restrictions on late-night work and on hazardous tasks, and the hours rules for older minors differ from those for the youngest workers. Confirm the current limits with the Department before you set a late schedule for a 16 year old. Do not assume that "no longer a kid" means "no limits".

What breaks does a minor get?

Minors are entitled to meal breaks and rest between shifts, and there are limits on how many days in a row they can work. Ask the Department for the current break rule and build it into the schedule rather than relying on the teen to ask. A manager should say it out loud at the start of the shift and write down when the break happened.

What equipment can a minor not use?

Minors may not operate hazardous power-driven equipment. In a restaurant, that includes items such as meat slicers and commercial mixers, and federal rules add other items such as certain bakery machines and trash compactors. Post a list near those machines, train every new worker and make clear to managers that "just this once" is not an exception. A minor injured on a banned machine creates a serious problem for the business.

What about tipped work and pay?

A teen who works as a server or busser is covered by the same wage rules as an adult, with whatever tip credit applies. Check the current state minimum and tipped wage with the Department of Labor and Industry before you set pay. Federal law also allows a lower starting wage for some young workers for a short period. Whether you use it is your decision, and it can hurt hiring when the market is tight. Pay on time and keep accurate time records.

How do you schedule a student well?

Ask for the school calendar in August and the exam schedule in January and May. Give the teen a stable schedule, two weeks ahead, in writing. Do not call a student in on a school night to cover a shift. Teach one station well, then add another. A teen who is treated fairly tends to stay through graduation and brings friends.

Keep records as if an inspector were arriving tomorrow. For each minor, file the permit, the parental acknowledgment where required, the date of birth, the schedule and the time records, including break times. Post the required labor law notices where staff can see them. Review the schedule each week for violations, such as a shift that runs later than the law allows. A small mistake repeated every week is still a violation, and the Department can ask for records covering past periods. A short monthly audit by the manager is the cheapest protection you can buy.

Talk to the parents when it helps. A short note explaining the schedule, the pay and the safety rules builds trust, and a parent who knows the rules will back you up when a teen asks for more hours than the law allows.

Do you want a steady crew and a steady crowd?

Mosey is a food-first app where diners search by dish and mood, rate what they ate and keep lists of places to try. For a restaurant that runs on a young crew, a steady flow of guests who found you by your food makes the schedule easier to plan. Mosey also gives your business its own page and list of regular guests, so the people who love your food come back whoever is on shift.

More guides for your business:

• Pennsylvania tip pooling and service charge rules for restaurants
• How to get more customers to your Pennsylvania restaurant (2026)
• PA Preferred and local sourcing for Pennsylvania restaurants

More in the US guides for food businesses.