Legalities Businesses in the Entertainment Industry Must Consider When Hiring Employees

Hiring high-quality employees in any industry is a massive challenge. But hiring high-quality, hardworking individuals in the entertainment industry poses its own challenges that need to be tackled. But particularly in today’s labor market, with openings in every industry and not enough workers to fill them, finding the right employees is incredibly difficult. And there are always additional legal hoops that companies must jump through in the hiring process. Here are three legal issues that businesses in the entertainment industry must consider when hiring employees.

Employing Minors

While it may seem like an easy decision, employing minors in the entertainment industry comes with its own legal baggage that you must factor into your hiring decisions. When you hire minors, first, you can often pay them less. The federal minimum wage is lower for minors than it is for legal adults, meaning it can sometimes be a cost-effective choice for businesses. But this upside comes with several other considerations. First, minors can only work so many hours in a day, in a row, and in a week. You also cannot have minors working late at night, which are considerations that must be made when considering roles that may be appropriate for minors.

Observing OSHA Regulations

Another legality that businesses in the entertainments industry must consider is OSHA regulations. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health administration, which regulates safe working conditions for employees and workers throughout the United States. OSHA regulations must be observed, or you risk facing fines and penalties. Make sure that you do your research and fully understand the OSHA regulations that impact your business and how you must adapt to make sure you are always OSHA compliant.

IATSE Rules

The final legality that you must consider when hiring in the entertainment industry is IATSE rules and regulations. IATSE is the union that encompasses most of the crew members that work on movie and film sets and for entertainment companies. IATSE stands for The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts. IATSE has its own rules and regulations that dictate the conditions that you must provide to their members, and you need to follow these IATSE protocols for success in the entertainment industry.

Hiring is never an easy undertaking regardless of what industry you are in. But when you operate in the wild and wacky world of entertainment, things only get more complicated. Make sure you consider these three legal issues that impact entertainment businesses to ensure success.

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