A provision buried in Ohio's education bill quietly changed the rules for hiring teenage staff—and it affects your scheduling options now.
Most gym and fitness studio owners in Ohio don't realize that a change to state labor law took effect when HB455 was enacted. Buried in a bill primarily about public schools and the Department of Education and Workforce is a provision that directly expands when you can schedule employees under 16.
Under the new rule codified in Section 4109.07(A)(4), minors under 16 may now work until 9 PM on nights before non-school days—an increase from the previous 7 PM limit. The key requirement: parental approval must be on file.
"Non-school nights" means any evening before a day when the minor is not required to attend school. In practical terms, this covers Friday and Saturday nights year-round, plus any other nights during school breaks or holidays.
For gyms and fitness studios, this provision opens a real scheduling window. Evening shifts—especially Friday and Saturday—are often when studios need front desk coverage, cleaning staff, or junior trainers. The two-hour extension (7 PM to 9 PM) gives you flexibility to fill shifts that might otherwise require adult staff or go uncovered.
This is especially relevant if you operate group fitness classes, open gym hours, or member events that run into the evening. A 16-year-old employee can now legally stay on the clock through 9 PM on weekend nights, making it easier to staff peak hours without overtime costs for adult employees.
The provision also applies across hospitality and service industries—restaurants, retail, and other businesses that compete for the same teenage labor pool. If you haven't already, now is the time to review your staffing model and consider whether this expanded window fits your operational needs.
If you currently employ or plan to hire staff under 16, ensure you have written parental consent on file before scheduling anyone under 16 past 7 PM on non-school nights. The documentation requirement hasn't changed; what's new is the permissible end time.
You should also verify that any shift extending to 9 PM still complies with other state labor rules—including rest periods, maximum weekly hours, and restrictions on the types of work minors can perform. HB455 modified work hour limits, but it did not eliminate other protective regulations.
The provision became effective upon enactment of HB455. There was no delayed implementation period, so the new 9 PM threshold applies now.
If you'd like a free, business-specific summary of how this change applies to your gym or studio's hiring and scheduling practices, resources are available through Ohio business associations and workforce development offices.
Source: Ohio HB455, Section 4109.07(A)(4), page 298.