Minimum Wage and Youth Employment Research

Minimum Wage and Youth Employment Research Instructions: For questions 1 through 6, answers can be found on the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor’s website (http://www.dol.gov/). 1. What is the current federal minimum wage? $7.25 2. Name five states that have a minimum wage higher than the federal rate. Answers will vary. 3. Name the states that have a minimum wage lower than the federal rate. Arizona, Wyoming, Minnesota, and Georgia 4. Name the states with no minimum wage. Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee 5. In your opinion, what is the purpose of a minimum wage? Answers will vary. 6. Do you believe states should have minimum wages lower than the federal rate (this includes states with no minimum wage)? Please explain your answer. Answers will vary. Instructions For questions 7 through 15, answers can be found on the North Carolina Department of Labor’s website (http://www.nclabor.com/index.htm). 7. What is North Carolina’s minimum wage? $7.25 8. What is the cash wage in North Carolina? $2.13 9. Why does the cash wage differ from the minimum wage? The cash wage is for workers, such as waitresses and bussers, who earn an additional income from tips. They are called classified as tipped employees. The minimum wage is for “normal” workers who do not earn an extra income from tips. 10. What is the purpose of the child provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act? The purpose of the provisions is to ensure that employment does not jeopardize the educational occupations, health, and well-being of youth. 11. If a person is 16 or 17 years old, she/he is not allowed to work from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. when school occurs the next day. 12. Name at least five occupations or work environments banned for all youth under the age of 18. Answers will vary. 13. Summarize the work standards for 14 and 15 year olds: a. How many hours during the school are 14 and 15 year olds permitted to work during the school day? 3 hours b. How many hours during the school are 14 and 15 year olds permitted to work during a non-school day? 8 hours c. When should youth under the age of 16 receive a break? After 5 hours of consecutive work d. Where can youth under the age of 16 be employed in your area? They are permitted to work in most retail, food service, and office work environments. e. Name two machines youth under the age of 16 are prohibited from operating and name two machines youth under the age of 16 are allowed to operate. Answers will vary. 14. In your opinion, why would an employer chose to hire a person who is 16 years old as opposed to a person who is 15 years old? Answers will vary. 15. Where would you advise a 14 or 15 year old student to work in your area? Name at least three specific businesses. Answers will vary.