TEENS Act Sets 24-Hour Weekly Work Cap for Students: What It Means for After-School Jobs

The “Teenagers Earning Everyday Necessary Skills Act,” or the TEENS Act, makes a specific change to federal child labor law. Currently, the Secretary of Labor has the power to define what constitutes “oppressive child labor” based on the number of hours a young person works. This bill puts a hard limit on that authority, stipulating that if a student works 24 hours or less during a school week, and works only between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., the work cannot be classified as oppressive solely based on the hours worked (SEC. 2).

The New Rulebook for Student Workers

Think of this provision as a clear, federal green light for employers hiring high school students. Right now, rules about student work hours during the school year can be complex, often varying by state and age. This bill creates a specific safe harbor: if a 16-year-old works three eight-hour shifts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—totaling 24 hours—it’s automatically deemed acceptable under federal law, provided school is in session and the shifts stay within the 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. window. This simplifies things immensely for national chains and local businesses that rely on student labor, giving them a clear maximum threshold they can use without federal interference based on hours.

Trading Regulatory Power for Clarity

The biggest policy shift here is the reduction of the Department of Labor’s discretionary power. By setting the 24-hour/9 p.m. cutoff in the statute itself, Congress is essentially saying, “This is the line—no questions asked.” While this provides clarity, it also removes the flexibility the Secretary previously had to adjust those limits based on evolving research about student welfare or changing economic conditions. For parents and educators concerned about academic rigor, this 24-hour limit is the maximum an employer could push a student worker during a school week before the federal government could step in on the basis of hours alone. For a student already juggling classes, homework, and college applications, 24 hours of work is a significant commitment.

The Real-World Impact on Juggling Life

For students, the benefit is straightforward: more opportunity to earn money. If you’re saving up for college or helping your family with bills, having a clear path to working up to 24 hours a week is a significant boost. However, the concern lies in the practical reality of that limit. If a student is working 24 hours a week, they might be clocking out at 9:00 p.m. on a Tuesday or Thursday, only to face a full day of school the next morning. This provision essentially formalizes a threshold that, while providing income, could place substantial strain on a student’s time management, sleep, and academic focus. It’s a trade-off between earning power and educational well-being, and this bill sets the federal standard firmly at the 24-hour mark.