Florida Workers’ Compensation Rates Will Decrease on June 1, 2018

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved a decrease of -1.8% in the rates Florida businesses pay for workers’ compensation insurance.  The decrease is a result of the effects of the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which became law in December 2017 and decreased the corporate income tax rate.

Your company’s workers’ compensation premium is determined by multiplying your total payroll by the rate for the class codes assigned to your business based on the work you do.

The -1.8% rate decrease will apply to new workers’ compensation policies issued starting June 1, 2018.  If you already have a workers’ compensation policy, the rate decrease will be applied to your policy when it renews on or after June 1st.  If you have any questions about the rate decrease and how it affects your workers’ compensation policy, you should contact your local insurance agent or your workers’ compensation insurance company.


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Are You Hiring Teenagers for the Summer?

If you have teenagers under the age of 18 working at your business this summer (or at any time during the year), you need to be aware of the state and federal laws regulating the types of jobs they can do, their minimum pay rate, their required number of breaks, and the number of hours they can work.

Minimum Wage:

  • The current minimum wage in Florida is $8.25 an hour.
  • Tipped employees like food servers must be paid a direct cash wage of at least $5.23 an hour, in addition to the tips they receive. If the combination of an employee’s tips and the direct cash wage of $5.23 an hour does not equal the minimum wage of $8.25 an hour, you are responsible for paying them the difference.

Age Requirements:

  • With certain exceptions, teenagers must be at least 14 years old to work in Florida.
  • Teenagers under 18 cannot drive automobiles as part of their job.  The only exception is for 17-year-olds, who may drive cars and small trucks during daylight hours and only under very limited circumstances.

During the summer, 14 and 15-year-olds:

  • Can work up to 8 hours a day but no more than 40 hours per week.
  • Can work between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
  • Must be given a 30-minute, uninterrupted break after 4 consecutive hours of work. The break can be unpaid.
  • Can work in most office jobs and retail and food service establishments, but may not sell, prepare or serve alcoholic beverages, nor may they work in any workplace where goods of any kind are manufactured or processed.
  • May operate most office machines and certain equipment in restaurants, such as dishwashers, toasters, milk shake blenders, and coffee grinders.
  • Cannot operate most power-driven machinery, including lawnmowers, lawn trimmers, and weed cutters.

During the summer, 16 and 17-year-olds:

  • Have no limit on the number of hours they may work each day and each week. But if they work more than 40 hours in a work week, they must receive overtime pay.
  • Have no limit on the time of day they may work.
  • Can work only 6 consecutive days per work week.
  • Must be given a 30-minute, uninterrupted break after 4 consecutive hours of work. The break can be unpaid.
  • Cannot sell, prepare, or serve alcoholic beverages.
  • Cannot drive automobiles as part of their job.  [There is a limited exception for 17-year-olds; see “Age Requirements” section above.]
  • Cannot perform electrical work, work in or around toxic substances or pesticides, or use power-driven bakery machines or meat slicers.

Roofing Prohibited:

Employees under 18 years of age cannot work in roofing occupations or on or near a roof.  This includes all work performed in connection with the installation of roofs, as well as any work on the ground related to roofing operations.  Minors are also prohibited from working near a roof doing things like gutter and downspout work; installing/servicing TV, cable, or satellite equipment; or installing/servicing HVAC equipment attached to roofs.

Required Records:

If your business hires an employee under the age of 18, you are required to post a Child Labor poster.

FUBA can provide you with this poster at no charge.  To request a poster, please email us at fuba@fuba.org and include your FUBA member number, business name, mailing address and contact name.

You are also required to keep records to prove the age of all minors you hire by keeping a copy of one of the following:

  • The minor’s birth certificate.
  • The minor’s driver’s license.
  • An age certificate issued by the School Board.
  • The minor’s passport or visa.

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