Virginia Law

The following terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Employ" means to put to work, use or service, or to engage the services of, and shall include to permit or suffer to work. "To permit or suffer to work" means to knowingly allow by failure to stop or to protest, as well as to employ by oral or written contract, by any person having authority over a minor in connection with the services being performed. As used in this chapter, the term "employ" is broader than the common law concept of employment and must be interpreted broadly in the light of the mischief to be corrected. Neither the technical relationship between the parties nor the fact that the minor is unsupervised or receives no compensation is controlling in determining whether an employer-employee relationship exists for the purpose of this chapter.

"Employer" means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, legal representative, receiver, trustee, or trustee in bankruptcy doing business in or operating within this Commonwealth who employs another to work for wages, salaries, or on commission and shall include any similar entity acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer in relation to an employee. For purposes of this chapter, it shall not include the government of the United States, the Commonwealth of Virginia or any of its agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions or any public body.

"School hours" means those periods when the school attended by the minor is in regular session, and does not include hours before and after school, Saturdays and Sundays, holidays, or school vacations, including summer vacations. If the minor does not attend school, "school hours" shall mean the school hours of the school district in which the minor is currently living.

"Sports-attending services" means pre- and post-game or practice setup of balls, items and equipment; supplying and retrieving balls, items and equipment during a sporting event; clearing the field or court of debris, moisture, etc., during play; providing ice, drinks, towels, etc., to players during play; running errands for trainers, managers, coaches, and players before, during, and after a sporting event; and returning and/or storing balls, items and equipment in club house or locker room after a sporting event. The following activities are not included in the definition and are, therefore, impermissible duties: grounds or field maintenance such as grass mowing, spreading or rolling tarpaulins used to cover playing areas, etc.; cleaning and repairing equipment; cleaning locker rooms, showers, lavatories, rest rooms, team vehicles, club houses, dugouts or similar facilities; loading and unloading balls, items, and equipment from team vehicles before and after a sporting event; doing laundry; and working in concession stands or other selling and promotional activities.