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Jun28'38
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
FRANCES PERKINS, Secretary

WOMEN'S BUREAU
MARY ANDERSON, Director

y COLLEG-E
LIBRARY

ALLEGl

L

STATE LABOR LAWS FOR
WOMEN
MARCH 31, 1,938

PART II-ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS
FOR WOMEN WORKERS

By

FLORENCE P. SMITH

BULLETIN OF THE WoMEN's BuREAU, No.

156-II

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1938

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. -


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LETIER OF TRANSMITIAL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
WOMEN'S BUREAU,
Washington, April 8, 1938.
MADAM: I have the honor to transmit a report presenting analyses
of State labor laws for _women as of March 31, 1938. The great
activity in the past year in new and amending legislation makes an
up-to-date issue of this useful handbook a necessity.
In the interests of economy the report is to be printed in sections,
as follows: I, Summary; II, Hours; III, Home Work; IV, Prohibited
Occupations, and Seats; V, Minimum-Wage (laws and orders).
The report has been prepared by Florence P. Smith, research
assistant.
Respectfully submitted.
MARY ANDERSON, Director.
Hon. FRANCES PERKINS,
Secretary of Labor
JI


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EN Y COLLEGE
LIBRARY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
WOMEN'S BUREAU
WASHINGTON

SUMMARY OF 1938, 1939, AND 1940 1 STATE HOUR LAWS
FOR WOMEN
SuPPLEMENT TO ,v-oMEN's BuREAU BuL,

156- II 2

DAILY AND WEEKLY HOURS
Eight-Hour Laws.
California: 8-hour day, 48-hour week-Coverage extended to any cleaning and
dyeing establishment, beauty shop, cafeteria.
Colorado: 8-hour day, 6-day week-Laundry; beauty service; public housekeeping ( over 8 hours in emergency if time and a half paid).
Louisia na: 8-hour day, 48-hour 6-day weel{-Manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, laundry, hotel, restaurant, telegraph, telephone, express, or transportation.
Exemptions include canning and towns of 6,000 population or less.
(Supersedes in part 9- 54-hour law.)
Montana: 8-hour day, 48-hour week-Restaurant, cafe, lunch counter, or other
commercial eating establishment. (All employees.)
Oregon: 8-hour day, 44-hour week-Cracking and shelling nuts. Overtime
allowed in emergency if time and one-half regular rate is paid.
Pennsylvania: 8-hour day, 44-hour 5½-day week-Exemption added for
charitable or welfare institutions operated on nonprofit basis. ( See T en-Hour
Laws.)
Utah: 8-hour day, 48-hour week-Coverage extended to any industry, trade, or
occupation. Exempts packing or canning perishable fruits or vegetables;
manufacture of containers of same during packing season; picking, cleaning.
or processing fowl; domestic service; executive positions.

Nine-Hour Laws.
Massachusetts: 9-hour day, 48-hour week-Coverage extended · to any private
club, office, letter shop, financial institution, place of amusement, and garage.
Commissioner may permit office workers to exceed 9 hours a day, if 4S-hour
week is not exceeded.
North Carolina : 9-hour day, 48-hour 6-day week-Exemption added for retail
or wholesale florists and their employees on Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day,
and 1 week prior to each.
Ten-Hour Laws.
Oregon: 10-hour day, 60-hour week-Processing, bleaching, grading, and packing
nuts. Overtime allowed in emergency if time and one-half regular rate is
paid.
Pennsylvania: 10-hour day, 48-hour 6-day week-Charitable or welfare institutions operated on a nonprofit basis.
1 Final reports on all bllls introduced in 1940 legislatures have not yet been received.
(July 1, 1940.)
2 Notes on Bulletin 156-II :
Entry for Utah on page 1, footnote 5 on p . 9, and first entry for Utah on p. 37 should
be disregarded as the State Industrial Commission order for retail occupations was invalidated. New order issued April 1, 1940.
Oklahoma Industrial Welfare Commission order s (pp. 5, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 31, 32, 33)
are inoperative pending court review.
The Pennsylvania hour law all'~cting men (footnote 4, pp. 7, 9) has been declared
unconstitutional.
The South Carolina hour law on P. 9 is inoperative pending court decision.
245468 °-40


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2
Ten-and-a-Quarter-Hour Laws.
New Hampshire: 10¼ -hour day, 54-hour week-60 hours a week (10 1/4 hours
a day) may be worked in laundries . 3 months a year if special license is
granted.
Weekly Hour Laws.
Alaska : 60-hour week-Household or domestic service.
DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS
Colorado: 6-day week; not over 4 hours without a rest or meal period of
30 to 60 minutes-Laundry.
6-day week-Beauty service; public housekeeping (in emergency employees
may work 7th day).
6-day week, except in pilak periods; not over 1 hour for each meal period ;
10-minute rest period each 4 hoursRetail trade.
Illinois: Not over 5 hours without a meal period of 30 minutes-Beauty culture.
Kentucky: Not over 6 hours without a rest period of 30 minutes-All
occupations.
6-day week unless time and a half is paid for seventh day-'-All occupations.
(AU employees.) Exemptions include employees on 40-hour -week, farm, and
domestic work, hotels, apartment houses, hospitals, small telephone exchanges,
office workers, supervisors, and other groups of workers.
Louisiana: 6-day week; 'in establishments employing more than 3 females, not
· over 6 hours without interval of 45 minutes, or 6½ hours if day's work ends
at 1: 30 p. m.-Industries covered by 8-48-hour law.
Massachusetts: Not -over 6 hours without 45-minute meal period, etc.-Coverage
· extended to mechanical and mercantile establishments and to .all factories
and workshops, regardless of number of employees.
6-day week-Coverage extended to mechanical establishments, workshops,
watchmen, and employees maintaining fires. (All employees.)
New Hampshire : 6-day week-Exemption ad~ed for canning of perishable goods ;
telephone and telegraph offices.
New Mexico: 7-day week-Provision for 6-day ·week has been repealed.
New York: 6-day week-Exemption added for employees of flo~ists at Easter.
Pennsylvania: 6-day week-Charitable or welfare institutions operated on a
nonprofit basis.
·
Utah : Not over 1 hour for each meal period ; 10-minute rest period each 4 hours
or fraction thereof-Retail trade. 3

NIGHT WORK
Massachusetts: Employment of women over 21 in textile manufacturrng until
10 p. m. permi'tted until April l, 1941.
New York: Exemptions from law prohibiting work between 10 p. m. and 6 a. m.
for proofreaders, linotypists, and monotypists in newspaper publishing
extended to those in commercial printing esta blishments.
Exemptions from law prohibiting work between 10 p. · m. and 7 a. m.
extended to employees of florists on Easter morning and preceding day and
on December 23.
Pennsylvania: Prohibited p~riod 12 p. m. to 6 a. m.-lVlanufacturing establishments operating 2 shifts of not over 8 hours each and not over 5 days a week.
2

See footnote 2, on p. 1.
U . S . G'OV ER NM EN T PRINTING OFFICE : 1940


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS
SEVEN-HOUR LAW FOR WOME
State
Utah:

Industrial
commission
order no. 1, 1938.

Weekly limit
42½

WORKERS

Overtime

Occupations or industries specified and employ~s cbvered

hours _______ 7½ hours may be worked on 1 day a week. __ ____________ Retail trade occupation, l. e., all selUng of merchandise t-o the consumer, not for the purpose of resale in any form , (WomPn;
Overtime is allowed in cases of semiannual sales, preminors under 18.) Exception: Educational institutions that directly
Christmas and Easter holiday rush, Saturdays or
emergencies, provided time and one-half is paid for
offer for sale merchandise on the premises for the express accommohours over 42~~ a week and not more than 48 hours a
dation of enrolled students.
week, 8 hours a day, are worked .

EIGHT-HOUR LAWS
PART A.-FOR WOMEN WORKER
Ari7.ona:
Supplement to revised
code 1936, sec. 1381.

California:

1

48hours,6days __ -------- ----- --- -- ---------- ---------------- --·· · -·· ······ Any labor. (All females.) &ceptiom: Domestic w-ork; nurses; telephone or telegraph office or exchange and railroad yard office employmg 3 or fe wer women; harvesting', curing, canning, or drying df perishable fruits or vegetables during period necessary to save products
from spoiling; women working 6 hours a day or less may work 7 days
a week.

Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment or industry-,
· 1aundry, hotelf public lodging house, apartment house, hospital,
barber shop, p ace of amusement, restaurant, teleJp"aph or telephone
establishment or office; the operation of elevators m office buildings;
any express or transportation company. (Women 18 and over,)
Exceptions: Graduate nurses in hmipitals; the harvesting, curing,
canning, or drying of any variety of perishahle fruit, fish, or vegetable
during period necessary to save products from spoiling.
Industrial welfare comm.is- 48 hours, 6 days __________________________ . _____ _. ____ ___ . __________ _____ __ _ Mercantile industry; labeling and office work in the fish-canning indl.llttry; laundry and dry-cleaning industry; dried-fruit packing industry;
sion orders nos. 58, 6a,
7a, Sa, Ha, 15a, 1923; 3a,
office work in the citrus-packing and green-fruit and vegetable pack1929.
ing industries; manufacturing industry; nut-cracking and sorting
industry; labeling in the fruit and vegetable canning industry. (Women; minors under 18.)
Ibid., nos. 6a and Sa, 1923_ 8 hours (basic), In emergencies more than 8 hours a day may be worked Fish-canning industry and citrus-packing and green-fruit and vegetableif l¾ times the minimum rate is paid for all hours up
48 hours (baspack;ing industries. (Women 18 and over.) &ceptfom: Office work:
ic), 6 days
\r,beling in the fish-canning industry. (See preceding paragraph.)
to 12 and double said rate for all hours in excess of 12;
(basic).
and K lH times the minimum rate is paid for the first
8 hours of the day of rest and double this rate and a
quarter for all hours over 8.
1 Wisconsin has an industrial commission order limiting the working hours of women on street railw:ays to 8 a day, but no women are employed in such a capacity in Wisconsin.
2 See day-of-rest law, p. 21.

General laws (Deering)
1931, Act 3456.


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48 hours

2 _______ --- ---- ------------· · · · · · - · · · · · · · -------- -- ---------- - ----

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS- Continued

EIGHT-HOUR LAWS-Continued
PART A.-FOR W OMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Weekly limit

Overtime

Occupations or industriei; specified and employees covered •

California-Con tinned.
Ibid., no. 3a, 1929 _________ 8 hours (basic),
48 hours (basic), 6 days
(basic).

Ibid, nos. 10a and 12a, 1923Ibid., no. 16a, 1931. _______

Ibid., no. 17, 1931_________ _

Ibid., no. 9a, 1933. _______ _

In emergencies more than 8 hours a day may be worked Fruit- and vegetable-cannlng industry. (Women 18 and over.) Exception: Labeling. (See paragraph next preceding.)
if l¾ times the rate paid in regular time is paid for all
hours up to 12 and double the regular rate for all hours
in excess of 12; and if l¾ times the regular rate is paid
for the first 8 hours of the day of rest and double said
rate and a quarter for all how·s over 8.
48 hours, 6 days_ --- --------------------------------------- - --------------- Unclassified occupations (women; minors under 18); hotels and restaurants. (All females). Exception: Adult women working 6 hours a
day or less may be employed 7 days a week.
8 hours (basic), In emergencies overtime may be worked if time and one- Motion-picture industry~xtras, i. e., women who act, sing, dance, or
quarter is paid for all hours over 8 and up to 10, time
otherwise perform at a wage of not more than $15 a day or $65 a week.
6 da ys (basic).
and one-half for all hours over 10 and up to 12, time fl nd
(Women 18 and over.)
three-quarters for all hours over 12 and up to 14, and
double time for all hours over 14 and up to 16. Work
is permitted on the seventh day if the first 8 hours or
fraction thereof are paid for at time and one-half of onesixth of tbe weekly wage and each additional 2 hours
or fraction thereof at an additional one-half of one-sixth
of the weekly wage.
8 hours (basic), In emergencies more than 8 hours a day may be worked Motion-picture industry-women 18 and over employed at not more
48 hours (basthan $40 a week who do not act, sing, dance, or otherwise perform.
if 1½ times the regular rate is paid for all hours up to
12 and double that rate for all hours in excess of 12, and
ic), 6 days
if 1½ times the regular rate is paid for the first 8 hours
(basic).
on the day of rest and double that rate for all hours
over 8.
48 hours ________ _ In emergencies females over 18, not subject to 8-hour law General and professional offices. (Women; minors under 18.)
and receiving $30 or more a week may be employed
more than 48 hours.
In emergencies females over 18, not subject to 8-hour law
and receiving less than $30 a week, may be employed
more than 48 hours if paid 1½ times tbe regular rate
for all emergency work.

Colorado:
Statutes 1935, ch. 97, secs. __________ ________ Industrial commission may allow overtime in cases of Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
hotel, or restaurant. (Females 16 and over.)
112, 246.
emergency provided the minimum wage is increased.
Connecticut:
Supplement to general 48 hours, 6 days. 10 hours may be worked on 1 day in the week in order to Mercantile establishment. (A ll females.) Exception: Dec. 18 to 25
make 1 shorter workday during such week.
if employer grants at least 7 holidays with pay annually.
statutes 1937, p. 438,
sec. 7 9d.
District of Columbia :
Code 1929, p. 181, sec. 21..148 hours, 6 days_ --- ------------------------------------------------------- Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
hotel, restaurant, telegraph or telephone establishment or office, or
express or transportation company. (All females.)


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Illinois:

48 hours _______ __ In other than mercantile establishments 9 hours may be Mechanical or mercantile establishment, factory, laundry, hotel,
restaurant, barber shop or beauty parlor, telegraph or telephone
worked on 1 day a week if weekly hours do not exceed
establishment or office thereof, place of amusement, express or trans48. 10 hours a day, 60 hours a week may be worked
portation or public utility business, common carrier, public or private
in canneries between June 1 and Oct. 15.
In mercantile establishments 9 hours a day, 54 hours a
institutions or offices thereof. (Females 16 and over.) Exceptions:
Graduate nurses, operators in telegraph or telephone establishments
week may be worked during 4 weeks in a calendar
employed not more than 10 hours between 7:30 p . m .' and 8 a. m., if
year.
sleeping facilities are provided and operator is permitted to sleep at
Overtime allowed Ior a period of 48 hours in public
least 4 hours; operators for a telephone company in an agency in a
emergencies in employments necessary to furnish
private residence or place of business other than an exclusive teleessential public services such as communication,
phone establishment.
sewage disposal, water supply, light, gas, and transportation.
Kansas:
Commission of labor and 48 hours _________________________________________________________________ __ Public housekeeping occupations, i. e., the work of waitresses in restauindustry order no. 4,
rants, hotel dining rooms, and boarding houses; attendants at ice1936.
cream parlors, soda fountains, light-lunch stands, steam-table or
counter work in cafeterias and delicatessens where freshly cooked
foods are served, and confectionery stores where lunches are served:
chambermaids in hotels, lodging and boarding houses, and hospitals;
janitresses, car cleaners, and kitchen workers in hotels, restaurants,
and hospitals; elevator operators, and cigar-stand and cashier girls
connected with such establishments. (Women; minors under 18.)
Ibid., no. 5, 1936 __________ 8 hours (basic), ------ ---------- ---- ------- ---- --------------- ------------ Telephone operators. (Women; minors under 18.)
6 days (basic).
48 hours _________ ------- -------- ------- - ------------------ --- ------- ----- -- Telephone employees other than operators. (Women; minors under
IS.) Exceptions: Small exchange having not more than 2 operators
on duty at one time; exchange l ocated in residence and operated by
agent and members of the household; cases of emergency.
Session laws 1937, pp.
550-552.

Montana:

Revised codes 1935, sec. __________________ Retail stores: 10 hours a day may be worked during the
3076.
week before Christmas.

Nevada:

Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, telephone
exchange room, or office, or telegraph office, laundry, hotel, or restaurant. (All females.)

Session laws 1937, ch. 207-- 48 hours_________ 12 hours daily, 56 weekly a-J.lowed in event of illness of
employer or employees, or unforscen temporary increase in business if time and a half the regular wage
rate is paid for all hours over 8 a day or 48 a week.

Private employment. (Females 18 and over.) Exceptions: Domestic
service; State, county, city, or town employees.

Session laws 1933, ch. 148_ 48 hours, 6 days _ 2 hours weekly in emergencies if time and one-half is
paid.

Industrial or mercantile establishment, laundry, ·hotel, restaurant,
cafe or eating house, place of amusement, public utility business,
office (as stenographer, bookkeeper, clerk, or in other clerical work).
(Females 16 and over.) Exceptions; Females engaged in interstate
commerce where the working hours are regulated by any act of
Congress of the United States; hospitals, sanitariums, registered or
practical nurses, midwives, domestic servants.
'
Telephone or telegraph office where hours of work are between 7 a. m.
and 10 p. m. (Females 16 and over .) Exceptions: Establishments
where 5 or fewer operators are employed; females engaged in interstate commerce where the working hours are regulated by any act of
Congress of the United States.

New Mexico:

Idem________________ __ ____ 48 hours, 7 days _ Allowed in emergencies resulting from fire, flood, storm,
epidemic of sickness, or other liko causes.

Ci.j


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

EI,GHT-HOUR LAWS-Continued
PART A.-FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Weekly limit

Overtime

New Mex:co-Continued.
Idem____________________ __ 54 hours, 7 day:;_ Allowed in emergencies resulting from fl.re, flood, storm,
epidemic of sickness, or other like cause3.

New York:
Cahill's Consolidated
Laws 1930, ch. 32, secs.
2, 173; Cumulative Supplement 19:H-35, ch. 32,
sec. 172; SC8.5ion laws
1937, ch. 660; industrial
code rule no. 1, amended

In order to make 1 short day of not more than 4½ hours,
IO hours may be worked on 1 clay in the week, and
9 hours on any of the remaining <i days, provided the
weekly hours do not exceed 48.
l•·rom June 15 to Oct. 1.5, IO hours a day, 60 hours and 6
days n. week m ay be worked .
ln emergencies or rush periods between June 25 and
1932.
Au;;. 5, 12 hours u day, 66 hours, 6 days a week may be
·,,orkcd if employer secures permit each year from
indu:;trial commissioner and complies with specified
regulations. Exceptiorzs: Work requiring constant
standing.
l:rom Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, 10 hours a day, 60 hours, 6 days
a \Veek may be worked.
Session laws 1938, ch. 651-. _____ do __________ _ (a) 10 hours may be ·.vorked on 1 day of the week in
order to mako 1 or more shorter work days that wJet.
In mercantile establishments 2 periods a year are permitted for tnkiu~ inventory, e:ich period not to exceed
1 week':; duration nor a total of 6 hours.
(b) 10 hours may be worked on l day of t he \V-Cek and 9
hours on any of 4 other days provided that the sixth
day dOE',S not exceed H<i hours and the week 48 hours.
In mercantile establishments 2 periods a year are permitted for taking inventor y, each period not to exceed
1 week's duration nor a totil-1 of 5 hours.
Every employer must notify the commissioner of labor
annually of his choice between (a) and (b) .1:1nd mmt
not change his clcrtion more than twice in any calendar
year.


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48 hours, 6 days_

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

Telephone or telegraph office where the hours of work are between 10
p. m . and 7 a. m. (Females 16 and over.) Erceptions: Establishments where 5 or fewer operato:-s are employed; females engaged in
interstate commerce where the working hours are regulated by any
act of Congress of the United States.
Factory, i. e., mill, workshop, or other manufacturing establishment;
laundry. (Females over 16.)
Establishments canning perishable products. (Females over 18.)

Sauerkraut canneries.

(Female..-; over 18.)

Mercantile esta blishments and beauty parlors. (Females over 16.)
Erceptions: Dec. 18-·24, inclusive, in mercantile establishments;
beauty parlors in cities and villages under 15,000 population ; writers
or reporters in newspaper offices and duly licensed pharmacists may
be employed 7 days a week.

Session laws 1937, ch. 282 ____ _do __ _________ In order to make a shorter workday, 10 hours may be
worked 1 day a week, 9 hours on the remaining 4 da-y-s,
and 4 ~~ hours on the short day provided weekly hours
do not exceed 48.

Hotel and restaurant. (Females over 16.) Exception&: Women employed solely as singers and performers; resort or seasonal hotels or
restaurants in rural communities and in cities and villages of fewer
than 15,000 inhabitants. ("Resort" and "seasonal definoj .)

Ibid., chs. 281, 282 _____________ do ________ __ _ ----------------------------------- ----------------------- Care, custody, or operation ofa freight or passenger elevator. (Females
over 18.)
Ibid., ch. 283 ______ ___ __________ do ___________ ------- --- --------------- ----- --------------------------- - Conductor or guard on any street surCace, .electric, subway, or elevated
railroad. (Females over 21. Under 21, employment prohibited.)
Ohio:

Session laws 1937 ____ ____ __ 48 h.ours, 6 days. In mercantile establishments 10 hours may be worked Any employment. (Females over 16.) ExcepUons: Manufacturing
establishments, agricultural occupations, domestic service in private
on Saturday and on the day before May 30, July 4,
homes; females over 21 in mercantile establishments and telephone
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day; also
companies in cities under 5,000 population; females over 21 earning
10 hours a day, 50 hours a week may be worked during
at least $35 a week in bona fide executive positions; women in the
1 week in the first 6 months of the year and 2 weeks In
professions of medicine, law, teaching, and social work; professional
the second 6 months.
employees in hospitals, such o.s graduate and student nurses, anesIn laundry and dry-cleaning plants 9 hours a day and 50
thetists, technicians, graduate and student dietitians, and internes.
hours a week may be worked during weeks that include New Year's Day, Good Friday, May 30, July 4.,
Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Allowed in employment by a telephone company during
emergency caused by public disaster.
Idem ___ _______ _______ _____ 45 hours, 6 days _ ---------------------------------------------------------- Manufacturing 1>,stablishments. Rxceptiom: Women over 21 earning
at least $35 a week in bona fide executive positions; canneries or establishments preparing perisht\ble goods. during the canning season.
Oklahoma:
Industrial welfare com- 48 hours, 6 days __ ----- ------ ------ ------------- ----------- ---- ------ ---- --- Restaurant industry, i. e., any establishment that prepares an4 offers
mission orders nos. 4, 5,
for sale for profit, food for consumption, either on any of its premises,
6, 1938.•
or by catering, banq_11et, bo:\•lunch, or curb service. (All females .)
JE.cceptinn.•: For every 8 employees in an establishment 1 executive or
supervisor receiving at least $20 a week in class A; l receiving at least
$l!J a week in class B; 1 reL-eiving at least-$18 a week in class C .
Food, i.e., nutritive material intended for human consumption, in solid
or liquid form, whether cooked or uncooked, or otherwise prepared.
Exceptions: Medicinal or quasimedicinal preparations, fountain
products such as carbonated and aerated drinks, ice cream and its
derivatives, bottle beverages, and drinks.
Hotel industry, i. e., businesses that extend lodging to the general
public for profit and that have 10 or more guest rooms. (All females .)
Exceptions: Hotel detectives !lDd 1 executive for each establishment;
by agreement between employer and employee 2 half days may be
taken off in lieu of 1 complete day in 7.
Office building industry, i. e., elevator operators, janitresses, maids,
and charwomen in any building used for office purposes. (All
females .)
a For male employees the same orders provide maximum hours as follows: Restaurant-class A-9 a day, 54 a week, class B-10 a day, 56 a week, class C-10 a day, 58 a week;
bot.el--dass A- 9 a day, 54 a week, class B-10 a day, 57 a week, class C-10 a day, 59 a week; office building-class A- a day, 48 a week, classes Band 'C-9 a day, 54 a week.
Class A: Cities .and towns of 40,000 or more population and contiguous territory within 2 miles thereof, more or less, within t he discretion of the Commission.
Class B: Cities and towns of not less than 10,000 nor more than 40,000 population and contiguous territory within 1 mile thereof, more or le$, within the discretion of the Commission.
Class C: Cities·and towns of less than 10,000 population and all unallocated territory outside thereof, within the discretion of the Commission.


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

EIGHT-HOUR LAWS-Continued
PART A.-FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State
Oregon:

State welfare commission
orders, 1937. (Unnumbered.)

Weekly limit

Overtime

44 hours, 6 days _ 9 hours a day, 48 hours a week may be worked for 2

periods during the year not to exceed 6 weeks each.
.In case or business emergency, commission upon application and showing may issue special license for overtime during emergency in question, if time and onehalf regular rate is paid.
_____ do __________ _ 9 hours a day and over « a week may be worked if 1H
times the regular rate is paid for overtime.
In case or business emergency, commission upon application and showing may issue special license for overtime during emergency in question, if time and oneregular rate is paid.
_____ do __ ________ _ Inhalf
case or business emergency, commission upon application and showing may issue special license for overtime during emergency in question, if time and onehalf regular rate is paid.

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

Needlecraft occupations, i. e., designing, cutting, stitching, weaving,
inspecting, knitting, hemstitching, altering, sorting of rags or materials, etc., whether by hand or by machine, of materials for clothing,
wearing apparel, upholstery, tents, awnings, bags, and draperies.
(Women 18 and over.)

Laundry, cleaning and dyeing occupations, i. e., work in all p!aces
where 2 or more persons are engaged in washing, cleaning, or dyeing
clothing, washable and cleanable materials, directly or indirectly
connected with such place of business; work in the process of receiving, marking, washing, cleaning, dyeing, ironing, and distribution or
washable and cleanable materials. (Women 18 and over.)
Manufacturing occupations, i. e., all processes or manufacture and
production or commodities, including photographing, creamery
products, bakery products, canning of meat, poultry, and fish, the
process or preparing meat and poultry for market, nut cracking and
sorting, and all other processes in the production of commodities not
covered by any other special order. (Women 18 and over.)
_____ do __________ __ ____ do _____________________________ _____________________ _ Mercantile
occupation , i. e., work in establishments operated for the
purpose of trade in the purchase or sale of goods or merchandise,
including the sales force, wrapping employees, auditing or checkinspection force, shoppers in the mail-order department, the receiving and shipping department, marking and stockroom employees,
sheet-music saleswomen, altering and tailoring department, sodafoun tain and lunchroom employees, demonstrators, models for
fashions, counter cashiers, elevator operators and starters. (Women
18 and over.)
_____ do ______________ __ do _________________________________ _______ __ ____ ____ _ Office
occupations, i. e., work as stenographers, bookkeepers, typists,
billing clerks, filing clerks, cashiers, checkers, invoicers, comptometer
operators, auditors, library attendants, and all kinds of clerical work.
(Women 18 and over.)
_____ do ____ ______ ______ do _____________ ________ ______ _____ __________________ _ Personal
service occupations, i. e., work as manieurists, beauty parlor
operators, masseuses, assistants in doctors' and dentists' offices and
in laboratories, demonstrators or products, cashiers and ushers in
theaters and places of amusement, assistants in broadcasting and
radio service, matrons in public buildings or institutions, elevator
operators and starters, janitresses and railroad car cleaners, and work
of like nature. (Women 18 and over,2


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1 Pennsylvania: 4
"
Session laws 1937, Act 322;
"""
industrial board rules,
December 1937.

44 hours ______________ do __________________________________________________ _ . Public housekeeping occupations, i. e., the work of waitresses,
cooks,
kitchen helpers, chambermaids, janitresses, elevator operators, and
general attendants in hotels, restaurants, boarding houses, dormitories
at institutions of learning, hospitals, sanitariums, cafeterias, light
lunch stands, retail candy, ice-cream and soft-drink parlors, delicatessens, and beer parlors. (Women 18 and over.)
_____ do _______ __ _______ do _____________ ___ _____ __ _________________________ __ _ Telephone
or telegraph establishment. (Women 18 and over.) Exception: Rural telephone establishment, not demanding uninterrupted
service of operator may be granted a special license by the commission
for different daily hours.
44 hours, 6 days _____ _do _____ ________ __ __________________ _____ ____________ _ Cherry
stemming and pitting. (Women 18 and over.)
44 hours, 5½ days_ If strict application oflaw imposes unnecessary hardship,
department of labor and industry, with approval of
industrial board, may prescrice variations. Regulations of the industrial board permit the following variations !or employees 18 years and over:
GENERAL

The half day shall not exceed 5 consecutive hours.
If only .'i days a week are worked, 10 hours are allowed in
any 1 day but week must not exceed 44 hours.
If daily hours do not exceed 6 and a 15-minute rest period
is allowed, 6 days a week may be worked.
Pending study by department of labor and industry,
employers of 3 or fewer persons may permit employment for 9 hours a day, 54 hours, 6 days a week.
In emergencies (as defined) daily and weekly overtime
may be worked.
If s.hortage of skilled labor exists, variations from provisions of law and regulations may be allowed if time
and a half is paid for excess hours.
During inventory and seasonal periods not to exceed an
aggregate of 5 weeks in any calendar year, over 8 but
not over 10 hours a day or 48 hours in 6 days may be
worked if 1½ times the regular rate is paid for hours
over 8 a day or 44 a week. Employers must file proposed hour schedule in advance. Exception.,: Employees on salary basis not subject to deduction for
absences.
Uontracts for longer hours, if result of collective bargaining and negotiated before Sept. 1, 1937, may be permitted to stand until their termination.
Students employed on part-time basis in educat-ional
institutions may work more than 5½ days a week but
not over 8 hours a day or 44 hours a week.
Office employees with regular hours of 40 a week or less,
who are on an annual salary basis and are not laid off
in slack periods, may be employed 10 hours a day, 54 a
week but not over 520 hours in l3 consecutive weeks.
• Pennsylvania has enacted similar legislation covering male employees (Session laws 1937, ch. 567).


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Any establishment, l. e., nny place where work is done for compensation
of any sort to whomever payable. (All females.) Exuption.v: Agricultural field occupations; domestic service in private homes; orphans'
homes and industrial schools; nurses in hospitals; executives over 21
and private secretaries earning at least $25 a week; outside representatives.

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

EIGHT-HOUR LAWS-Continued
PART A.-FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Weekly limit

Overtime

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES

.PenN1Jlvanla •-Continued.

Session laws 1937, Act 322:
industrial board rules,
December 1937.

44heurs,5½ days_ Mail-order business-6 days, 44 hours a week, 1()' hours
on 1 day if 1½ times regular rate is paid for hour!! over 8.
Retail trade-6 days a week, 10 hours on Saturday and
on day before a legal holiday if 1½ times regular rate is
paid for hours over 8.
Hotels and restaurants: Service employees-Over 8 hours
a day and 44 a week but not over 48 hours in 6 days in
any 1 week if time and one-half is paid. E-rception:
Front-office employees on a -salary basis who work
split shifts.
Housekeeping employees-6 days a week.
Office building operation and maintenance~ days a
week.
Banking and brokerage houses (until a study is compfoted)-A verage of 40 hours a week over 13-week
period beginning Dec. 1, 1937 (total 520 hours), hours
not to exceed 10 a day, Ma week. Applies to employees on annual salary basis who are not laid off during
slack periods. Tax specialists may average 40 hours
and work 6 days a week over 6-month period beginning Dec. 1, 1937.
Newspaper publishing (in emergency)-More than 8
hours in any 1 day, but not over 44 in 6 days in any
1 week (in towns of 50,000 or less, 48 hours) if 1½ times
regular rate is paid for hours over 8 a day.
Canning, processing or packing perishable fruit or vegetables during canning season-Longer hours allowed
if 1½ times the regular rate is paid for hours over 8 a
day. Application for such privileges nrust be filed
annually by each establishment together with statement of regular wage scale for season. Unlawful to
apply variations until application is approved.

Puerto Rico:
Session laws l 930, Act 28_ _ 48 hours________ _ 9 bours a day if double time is paid and maximum weekly
hours are not exceeded.
Utah:
Revised Statutes 1933, sec. 48 hours __.______ _ Daily overtime permitted in emergencies when life or
4~.
property is in imminent danger.


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Any establishment, i.e., any place where work ts done for compensation
of any sort to whomever payable. (All females.) Exceptions: Agri•
cultultural field occupations; domestic service in private homes;
orphans' homes and industrial schools; nurses in hospitals; executives
over 21 and private secretaries earning at least $25 a week; outside
representatives.

Any lucrative occupation. (Women over 16.) .Ezceptiom: Telephone
operators, telegraphers, artists, nurses, or domestics.
Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile I establishment, laundry,
hotel, restaurant, telegraph or telephone establishment, hospital1
office, or any express or transportation company. (Females 18 ana
over.) Ezceptiom: Packing or canning of perishable fruits or vegetables; manufacture of containers of same during packing season.

Washington:

Remington's Revised Stat•
utes 1931, sec. 7651.

Industrial welfare committee order No. 29, 1921.

Wyoming:

Revised statutes 1931, sec.
63--113; session laws 1933,
ch. 114.

(1) •••••••••••••••• • _. _. _______ ----- ···· _ ••••• _. _ ••••••••• ___ •••••••••••••• _ Mechanical or mercantile establishment, laundry, hotel, or re.,tauranL.
(Females 18 and over.) Exceptions: Harvesting, packing, curing,
canning, or drying perishable fruits or vegetables; canning fish or
shellfish.
6 days ___________ ---··------·----··--····---·-· -· -----------------·-·------ Manufacturing occupations, trades, or industries. (Women 18 and
over.)
48 hours_________ Allowed when an emergency exists, if time and one-half

is paid for every hour of overtime in any 1 day,

Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
hotel, public lodging house, apartment house, place of amusement,
restaurant. (Females 16 and over.)

PART B.-F OR ALL EMPLOYEES
South Carolina:

Eessionlaws 1938, Act 751)7_ 40 hours, 5 days _ 30 hours allowed in any quarter of any calendar year to
make up lost time due to accident or other unavoidable
cause, such lost time to be made up in the quarter year
in which lost .

Cotton, silk, rayon, or woolen textile mill. Exceptims: Office and
supervisory staff, engineers, flrecien, watchmen, shipping, outside
and repair-shop crews, carpenters, mechanics, electricians.

• Pennsylvania has enacted similar legislation covering male employees (Session laws 1937, ch . 567).
'See industrial commissiom order, p 1.
° For public housekeeping occupations the industrial welfare committee has set minimum-wage rates for an 8-hour day and a 48-hour week and, with certain modifications, has
provided a 6-day week; in certain other industries the minimum wage is set for a 6-day week. (See day-of-rest chart, p. 3S.) Sec. 2494, Remington's Revised Statutes 1932, makes
lt a misdemeanor to conduct, perform, or employ any labor on Sunday, except works of necessity or charity or specified businesses including the serving of meals. Where this and the
&-hour law both are applied maximum weekly hours for women are 48.
7 Act provides that it shall become inoperative May 1, 1939, unless Congress establishes 40-hour week for same industries.

EIGHT-AND-A-HALF-HOUR LAW FOR WOMEN WORKERS
State
North Dakota:

Weekly limit

Overtime

S~ion laws 1927, ch. 142 __ 48 hours, 6 days. 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, permitted in emergencies
provided weekly hour limit is not exceeded. Anemer•
gency is defined to exist in the case of sickness of more
than 1 female employee, for the protection of human
life, in the case of the holding of banquets, conventions,
celebrations, sessions of the State legislature or where
a female is employed as reporter in any of the courts of
the State.

Occupations or industries·specifled and employees covered

Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
hotel or restaurant, telephone, or telegraph establishment or office,
express or transportation company. (Females 16 and over.) Excep•
tions: Villages or towns of less than 500 population; rural telephone
exchanges; small telephone exchanges and telegraph offices where
special rules are established.

C0


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

• NINE-HOUR LAWS
PART A..-FOR WOMEN WORKERS
State
Arkansas:

Weekly limit

Overtime

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

54 hours, 6 days.. Any industry handling products, such as canning fac-

Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
express or transportation company, hotel, restaurant, eating place,
bank, building and loan association, insurance company, finance or
credit business; company supplying water or electricity; work in
elevators. (Females 16 and over.) Exceptiom: Cotton factories;
gathering of fruits or farm products; railroad companies whose hours
are regulated by Federal laws; women in executive or managerial
capacity whose weekly salaries are $35 or more, upon permit from industrial welfare commission.
Industrial welfare commis- __ • __ do ___________ .. ------------------------------ ------------------------ __ Hotel or restaurant. (All females.)
sion order, 1919.
Connecticut:
General statutes 1930, sec. 48 hours ________ _ In cases of emergency and of seasonal or peak demand, Manufacturing (including laundry) or mechanical establishment.
commissioner of labor may allow 10 hours a day, 55
2363; supplement to gen(All females; minors under 18.)
eral statutes 1937, p. 437,
hours a week for not more than 8 weeks in any 12 consecutive months .
sec. 788d.
Cumulative supplement 52 hours, 6 days _ 10 hours may be worked on 1 day in the week provided Public restaurant, cafe, dining room, barber shop, hairdressing or manicuring establishment, or photograph gallery. (All females.) Excepweekly maximum is not exceeded.
to general statutes 1931tion: Hotels.
35, p. 704, sec. 1605c.
Digest of the statutes 1921,
sec. 7114; supplement
1927, sec. 7109; session
laws 1935, Act 150; 1937,
Act 83.

Idaho:

tories and candy factories where it can be shown beyond
question of doubt that observance of the law would
work irreparable injury, may be permitted by the industrial welfare commi&ion to work overtime on 90
days a year, if time and one-half is paid for all hours
over 9 a day.

Code 1932, sec. 43-707 ••.. __ (!) _______________ -------------------------------------- ---------- --------- - Mechanical or mercantile establishment, laundry, hotel or restaurant,
telegraph or telephone establishment, office, express or transportation
company. (Females 16 and over.) Exception8: Harvesting, packing,
curing, canning, or drying perishable fruits or vegetables.
Kansas:
Commission of labor and 49½ hours_______ 2½ hours a week allowed if daily hours are not exceeded. __ Laundry occupations, i.e., work in laundry, dyeing, dry-cleaning, and
industry order no. 1, 1936.
pressing establishments. (Women; minors under 18.)
4½ hours a week allowed in case of emergency. In sea- Manufacturing occupations, i. e., all processes in the production of comIbid., no. 2, 1936__________ _ 49½ hours,
sonal industries handling perishable food products,
days.
modities, including work in florists' shops, and candy-making desuch as canneries, creameries, condenseries, and poulpartments of confectionery stores and bakeries. (Women; minors 16
try houses, the full amount of overtime is allowed for
and under 18.) Exceptiom: Millinery workrooms, dressmaking establishments, hemstitching and button shops, and the alteration, drapery,
6 weeks during their peak season or for 2 periods a year
not to exceed 3 weeks each. Cream testers may work
and upholstery departments of mercantile establishments may
6½ days a week between May 1 and Sept. 1, if weekly
obtain permission from the women's division of the commission of
hours do not exceed 54. In a poultry dressing and
labor and industry to operate under the mercantile order .
packing business, during the season from Oct. 15 to
Dec. 24, 11 hours a day and 58 hours a week are permitted for 4 of the 6 weeks' peak season and 11 hours
a day and 60 hours a week for the remaining 2 weeks,
provided 1 of these latter weeks falls between Nov. 1
and Thanksgiving Day and the other between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas.


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Ibid., no. 3, 1936__________ 54 hours, Gdays_ 10-hour working day allowed once a week, provided
maximum weekly hours are not exceeded.

Louisiana:

Goneral statutes (Dart)
1932, secs. 4319, 4322.

Maine:

Revised statutes 1gao, ch.
54, sec. Zl; session lawi.
1931, ch. 144.
Massachusetts:
General laws 1932, ch. 149,
sec. l; session laws 1935,
ch. 200; 1936, ch. 78.

Mk-hfgan:

54 hours________ _ lOhours daily, 60hours weeldy, permitted in emergencies
in packing plants, canning plants, and factories hand-

ling fruits, sea foods, vegetables ,and perishable foods .

54 boors ________ In order to mal.:e 1 shorter day a week, overtime is per-

mitted if tho maximum weeldy hours are not exceeded.
48 hours 2 _____ _ In manufacturing establishments and hotels where employment is determined by the department of labor
and industries to be seasonal, 52 hours a week are allo~d if average for year does not exceed 48 hours a
week.
In extraordinary emergencies overtime is allowed in public service or other businesses reqoiring shifts.
Overtime may be permitted to ma.li::e up time lost on a
previous day of the same week, due to stoppage of
machinery on which worker is dependent, provided
stoppage is not less than 30 consecutive minutes.
54 boors ________ _ 10 hours a day arc permitted if the weekly hours are not
exceeded.

Mercantile occupations, i. e., work in establishments operated for the
purpose ot trade in the purchase or sale ot any goods or merchandise,
including the sales force, wrapping employees, auditing and checking
force, shippers in the mail-order department, the receiving, marking,
and stockroom employees, sheet-music saleswomen and demonstrators.
and all employees in such establishments in any way directly connected with the sale, p,.uchase, and disposition of goods, wares, and
merchandise. (Women; minors 16 and under 18.) Exception :
Regularly registered pharmacists.
Mill, factory, mine, packing house, manufacturing establishment,
workshop, laondry, millinery or dressmaking store, mercantile establishment, hotel, restaurant, theater, concert hall, in or about any
place of amusement where intoxicating liquors are made or sold, in
any bowling alley, bootblacking establishment, freight or passenger
elevator, in the transmission or distribution of messages, whether
telegraph or telephone or any other messages, or merchandise, or in
an y other occupation whatsoever. (Females 16 and over.) •Exceptions: Store or mercantile establishment on Saturday nights in which
more than 5 persons are employed; mercantile establishment, cafe or
restaurant situated and operated outside of rtny municipality, or
within any town or village of fewer than 2,500 inhabitants; telegraph
office; agricultural pursuits.
Workshop, factory, manufacturing or mechanical establishment.
(Females 16 and over.) Exceptions: Manufacturing establishment or
business, the materials and products of which are pcrishnble; public
service in cases of emergency or extraordinary public requirem!'nt.
Factory or workshop, or any manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile
establishment (includin~ premises used for a restaurant or for publicly providin~ and serv1ng meals; premises used in connection•with
cleansing, dyemg, laundering, or pressing fabrics or wearing apparel),
telegraph office or telephone exchange (including a switch board operator in a private exchange), express or transportation company, laundry, hotel, manicuring or hairdressing establishment, motion-picture
theater, or as an elevator operator. (Women; minors 16 and under
18.) Exceptions: Persons employed in a supervisory capacity or serving exclusively as personal secretaries; domestic service; farm labor.

Factory, mill, warehouse, workshop, quarry, ~lothing, dressmaking. or
millinery establishment, or any place where the manufacture of any
kind of goods is carried on, or where any goods are prt>pared for manufacturing; any laundry, store, shop, or otter mercantile establishment,
office, restaurant, theater, concert hall, music hall, hotel, hospital,
or operating an elevator, or on street or electric railways. (All females; boys under 18.) Exceptions: Preserving and shipping p<'rishable goods in fruit and vegetable canning or fruit-packing establishments; student and graduate nurses in hospitals or nurses in fraternal
or charitable homes.
1 Secs. 17-2503 to 17-2506, Idaho code 1932, make ft unlawful to keep open any business on Sunday, except specified kinds including hotels and restaurants. Where this and the
0-hour law both are applied maximum weekly hours for women are 54.
• See day-of-rest law, p. 26.
Compiled laws 1929, sec.
8324.


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

NINE-HOUR LAWS-Continued
PART A.-FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State
Missouri:,
R evised statutes 1929, sec.
13210.

Nebraska:
Cumulative supplement
to compiled statutes
1!)33, SPC. 48-205.
New :Mexico:
Statute:; 1929, secs. 80-203,
80-206, 80-208.

Weekly limit

Overtime

54 hours.. ________ ---- --------------------------- - --------- ------- ---------- Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, factory,
workshop, laundry, bakery, restaurant, place of amusement, stenographic or clerical work of any character in the above industries,
express, transportation, or public utility business, common carrier,
or public institution. (Females 16 and over.) E-i:cf. ptions: Establishments canning or -packing perishable farm products in places of
less than 10,000 population for 90 days annually; telephone companies;
towns having a population of 3,000 or less.
54 hours.. ________ --------------------------·-- --- --------------------------- Manufacturing, mech1.nical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
hotel, restaurant, office, or puhlic-service corporation in metropolitan
cities and cities or the first class. (Females 16 and over.)
56 hours_________ In emergencies 4 hours a week if time and one-half is paid
and the total hours of labor for a 7-day week do not exceed 60.

North Carolina: 2
Session laws 1937, ch. 409__ _ 48 hours, 6 days_ 10 hours in any 1 day may be worked from Dec. 18 to 24,
inclusive, and during 2 periods annually of 1 week each
in mercantile establishwents.


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Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

Express, transportation, or any common carrier. (Females 16 and
over.) Exception: Females engaged in interstate commerce where
the working hours are regulated by any act of Congress of the United
States.
Any labor. (Females.) E:r.ceptiona: Laundries and dry-cleaning establishments; seasonal industries In the process of conditioning and
preserving perishable or semiperishab]e commod-ities; agricultural
occupations, ice plants, cotton gins and cottonseed oil mills; domestic
service in pdvate homes and boarding houses; work of-persons over
18 in bona fide office, foremanship, clerical or supervisory capacity,
executive positions, learned professions, commercial travelers, motion-picture theaters, seasonal hotels and club houses, commercial
fishing, tobacco redrying plants, tobacco warehouses; employers or
not more than 8 persons in each place of busines1>; charitable institutions, hospitals: railroads, common carriers and public utilities subject
to jurisdiction of Interstate Commerce Commission or North Carolina Utilities Commission, and utilities operated by municipalities
or transportation agencies regulated by the Federal Government;
State or municipal employees; hotels. Telegraph operators and
clerks at offices employing 3 or fewer persons inay be employed 7 days
a week.

Nwth Dakota:
Miuimum wage department order no. 1, 1932.

case of emercency tempo~ suspension or modiflca-

Public housekeeping occupations in towns of less than 500 population,
i. e., the work of waitresses in restaurants, hotel dining rooms, boardIng houses; attendants at ice-cream and light-lunch stands and
steam-table or counter work in cafeterias and delicatessens where
freshly cooked foods are served; chrmbermalds in hotels, lodging
houses, hoarding houses, and hospitals; janitresse.s, car cleaners,
kitchen workers in ho~ls, restaurants, and hospitals; and elevator
opera.tors.
(Women 18 and over.)
Ibid ., no. 3, 1932.__________ 54 hours ________ _ _____ do __________________________________________________ _ Mercantile occupations
in towns of less than 500 population, i. e., work
in establishments operated for the purpose of trade in the purchase or
sale of any goods or merchandise, including the sales force, wrapping
force, auditing or che.cking force, shippers in the mail-order department, the receiving, marking, and stockroom employees, and all other
women. (Women 18 and over.) Exception: Women who perform
office duties solely.
Oklahoma:
Statutes 1931, secs. l<ll47- 54 hours'-------- Telephone operators in time of disaster or epidemic if Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry,
bakery, hotel, restaurant, office building, warehouse, telegraph or
consent of employee is secured and double time paid.
10S48.
telephone. establishment or office, printing establishment, book
Hotel and restaurant employees in emergencies may
bindery, theater, show house, place of amusement, or any other
work 1 hour overtime a day if consent of employee
establishment. (Females 16 and over.) Exceptions: Registered pharis secured and double time paid.
macists, nurses, agricultural or domestic service; towns or cities of
less than 5,000;. establishments employing fewer than 5 females .
Industrial welfare com- 48 hours, 6 days __ ---------- ------------ -- -- -------------- ----- -- ------- ---- Laundry industry, i. e., washing, ironing or processing incidental
mission orders nos. 1, 2,
thereto, for compensation, of clothing, napery, blankets, bed clothing,
3, 8, 1938. '
or fabrics of any kind whatsoever in private plants where labor is
employed; laundry service for their own use by business establishments, clubs, hotels, hospitals, or institutions. (All females.) Exceptiom: Eleemosynary institutions, benevolent organi7.ations or
institutions organized and supported wholly on a non-profit basis,
and State-supported institutions; plant maintenance, office work;
drivers; a plant foreman and supermtendent in plant.s having more
than 5 employees.
Laundry occupation, I. e., all processes directly concerned with the
cleansing, ironing, pressing, or finishing of laundry wares.
Cleaning and dyeing industry, i. e., any place or vehicle where the
service of dry cleaning, wet cleaning, eac'.l a process incidental to dry
cleaning, spotting, and/or finishing any fabric that is rendered for
hire or sold, resold, or offered for sale or resale. (All females.) &eeptiona: Plant maintenance, office work, delivery; drivers; a plant
foreman and superintendent in plants having more than 5 employees,
plants manufacturing fabrics.
Fabric, i. e., any article of wearing apparel including hats, household
furnishings, rugs, textiles, furs, and leather.
a The North Carolina act also sets a 10-hour day, ~hour week, for men, allowing the same and additional exemptions, including mercantile establishments, and permitting
overtime in emergencies and rush seasons.
'See orders of industrial welfare commission for certain industries, pp. 13-14, 15, 17, 18.
'For male employees the same orders provide maximum hours as follows: Laundry and cleaning and dyeing, 10 a day, 64 a week; retail mercantile and automotive-Class A-9 a
day, Ma week; class B-10 a day, 57 a week; class C-10 a day, 59 a week. In the retail mercantile industry male employees may be employed 12 hours on 1 day a week. See footnote
a, p. 6, for definition of classes of cities.


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58 houra..____ ____ In

~:~

X:a l~::rmitted by

e department of agricul-

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
NINE-:llOUR LA WS-----:-Cop.tinued
PART A.-FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

State
Oklahoma-Continued.
Industrial welfare commission orders nos. 1, 2,
3, 8, 1938. 1

'

Ibid., no. 3, 1938 J ............
. Oreton:
State welfare commission
order, 1938 (unnumbered).
Rhode Island:
Session laws 1929, ch. 1316;
1936, ch. 2426.
TelDIS:

Complete statutes 1928,
revised civil statutes,
arts. 5168-5170; suppl ement 1931, art. 5172;
session laws 1933, ch.
114.


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Weekly limit

Overtime

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

48 hours, 6 days . . . . . . ..... . .... ................... .................................................. . Automotive industry, i. e., retailing new or used motor vehicles and
servicing or repairing them, including the sale and/or installation of
new or used parts or accessories; garages, storage, and parking, including washing, other cleaning, lubricating, repairing, towing, and driving of customers' cars; filling stations (any place whose principal
business is selling at retail gasoline, oils, gre_ases, lubricants, and other
petroleum products, automobile equipment, supplies, and accessories)
(All females .) Exceptiom: Oar salesmen, outside filling station,
storage, and parking solicitors receiving the minimum wage or more;
managers or department managers receiving at least $30 a week in
establishments employing 3 full-time regular employees.
Retail mercantile industry-Classes A and B, i. e., selling of merchan•
dise to the consumer and not for the purpose of resale in any form;
servicing, purchase, or sale of any goods, wares, or merchandise; in·
cludt>s the sales, wrapping, auditing, or checking force, shippers in
the mail order department, and outside delivery men. (All females.)
Exce-pt.icns: Office employees, janitors; for each 5 full-time employees,
1 executive receiving at least $25 a week.
51hours, 6days ............................................................. . Retail mercantile industry-Class 0. (See above for definition, etc.)
(All females.)
44 hours, fol- , Allowed in emergencies if .1½ times the regular rate is Hospitals, i. e., cooks, waitresses, kitchen helpers, janitresses or general
lowed by 36- ! paid.
charwomen. (Women 18 and over.) Exceptions: Graduate nurses,
hour rest
dietitians, laboratory workers; student nurses if work is confined to
period.
service to patients or work in classrooms; 7 days a week may be
worked if hours do not exceed 7 a day, 44 a week.
48 hours ....... ~ . . In order to make a 5-day week, 9,t hours a day may be Factory, manufacturing, m echanical, business, or mercantile establishworked.
ment . (Women; minors 16 and under 18.) Exception: Women
working by shifts during different periods or parts of the day in the
employ of a public utility.
54 hours .......... . _ : In case of extraordinary emergencies longer hours m~y be Factory, mine, mill, workshop, mechanical or mercantile establish· worked with consent of employee, but for such hours
ment, laundry, hotel, restaurant, rooming house, theater, movingdouble time must be paid; laundries may work 11 hours
picture show, barber shop, beauty shop, roadside drink- or fooda day, provided weekly maximum is not exceeded and
vending establishment, telegraph, telephone, or other office, express
double time is paid for all hours over 9 a day; woolen,
or transportation company, State institution, or any other establishworsted, and cotton mills and factories making articles
ment, institution, or enterprise where females are employed. (Feout of cotton goods may work 10 hours daily, 60 hours
mal es 15 and over.) Exceptions: Stenographers; pharmacicsts; superweekly, if double time is paid for all hours over 9 a day.
intendents, matrons, nurses, and attendants employed by, in, and
about orphans' homes that are charitable institutions, not run for
p,rofit, and not operated by the State; cleaning and pressing establishments; mercantile establishments and telephone or telegraph com,
panies in rural districts and in towns of less than 3,000 population.

Vermont:
Session laws 1937, Act 177 __ 50 hours_________ In case or extraordinary emergency or extraordinary public requirement an employer engaged in public service
may be exempted.
~

~

01

0)

~ Virginia:
I
Session laws 1938_________ _ 48 hours_ __ __ ____ 10 hours a day may be worked during the· tobacco market seasons in the handling or redrying of leaf tobacco
and for a 90-day period annually in shelling peanuts
and shucking oysters. Women in florist shops and
greenhouses may be employed 10 hours a day for 3
~
days preceding and on Feb. 14, Dec. 25, Easter Sunday, and Mother's Day.
Wil!lconsin:
Statutes 1935, secs. 103.01- 50 hours____ ____ _ 10 hours a day may be worked during emergency periods
103.02; industrial comof not more than 4 weeks a year, if time and one-half
is paid and weekly hours do not exe.led 55.
mission order no. 6, 1918.

r
~

Industrial commission or- _____ do __________ _ 54 hours a week, but not more than 9 hours a day, are
der relating to factories
permitted during season of the actual canning of the
product. In emergencies, 11 hours a day, 60 hours a
canning peas, 193i.
week, may be worked by women over 17 years of age,
on not more than 8 days during the season, if 1½ times
the minmium rate is paid for all hours in excess of 9 a
day.
Industrial commission or- __ ___ do ______ ____ _ 54 hours a week, but not more than 9 hours a day are perder relating to factories
mitted during season of the actual canning of the prodcanning beans, cherries,
uct. In emergencies, 10 hours a day, 60 hours a week,
corn, strawberries, tomay be worked by women over 17 years of age, on not
matoes, or spinach, 1937.
more than 8 days during the season, if 1½ times the
minimum rate is paid for all hours in excess of 9 a day.

Lsborlng in mine or quarry, manufacturing or ~echaniosl establishment. (Women; minors over 16.) E.rceptiMI: Telephone exchange
where hours of actual labor of operator do not exceed 9 hours daily,
50 hours weekly, or where operator during the night is not required to
operate switchboard continuously but is able 1.o sleep the major part
of too night.
Factory, workshop, laundry, restaurant, mercantile, or manufacturing
establishment. E.rcqJtions: Bookkeepers, stenographers, cashiers or
office assistants, buyers, office executives, and assistant managers;
mercantile establishments in towns of fewer than 2,000 inhabitants
or in country districts; factories engaged exclusively in canning,
processing or packing fruits or vegetables during the season.
Place of employment, 1. e., any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment, beauty parlor, laundry, restaurant, confecl.ionery
store, telegraph or telephone office or exchange, or express or transportation establishment. (Females 18 and over.) Eruption: Registered pharmacists and assistant pharmacists.
Factories canning peas. (Females over 16.&)

Factories canning beans, cherries, corn, strawberries, tomatoes, or
spinach. (Females over 16.&)

PART B.-FOR ALL EMPLOYEES

Oklahoma:
Industrial welfare commission order no. 7,
1938.

48 hours, 6 days_ ------------- --- ---- - ---------- -- --- -------------- --- ---- - Wholesaling and distributing industry. (All employees.) Exception&:
Executives or supervisors recei:ving at least $30 a week and/or outside
salesmen receiving at least $25 a week provided delivery of merchandise is no part of salesmen's duty.

4 For male employees the same orders provide maximu m hours as follows: Laundry and cleaning and dyeing, 10 a day, 54 a week; retail mercantile and automotive-Class A-9 a
day, 54 a week; class B- 10 a day, 57 a week; class 0 - 10 a day, 59 a week. In the retail mercantile industry male employees may be employed 12 hours on 1 day a week. See foo tnote
3, p. 6, for definition of classes of cities.
0 These orders applied to the 1937 season. A new law approved Oct. 16, 1937, provides an 8-hour da7, 4-0-hour, 6-day week for minors under 18.


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

TEN-HOUR LAWS
PART A.--FOR WOMEN WORKERS
State
Delaware:

Revised code 1935, sec.
3592.

Weekly limit

Overtime

55 hours, 6 days _ 12 hours on 1 day of each week provided weekly maximum is not exceeded.

•

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

Mercantile, mechanical, or manufacturing establishment, laundry,
baking, or printing establishment, telephone and telegraph office or
exchange, restaurant, hotel, place of amusement, dressmaking establishment, or office. (Females 16 and over.) Exceptions: Canning
or preserving or preparation for canning or _preserving of perishable
fruits or vegetables.

Kentucky:

Carroll's Statutes, 1930,
sec. 48661.r-2.

Maryland:

Annotated code (Bagby)
1924, art. 100, sec. 54.

60 hours _________ ---- ---- ----------------------- -- --------- ------ -- ---- - --- Laundry, bakery, factory, workshop, store or mercantile, manufacturing, or mechanical establishment, hotel, restaurant, or telephone
exchange or telegraph office. (Females 16 and over.)
60 hours_, ___ ____ 2 hours on Saturdays, Christmas Eve, and the 5 working days before Christmas Eve in retail mercantile
establishments outside of the city of Baltimore, if 2
rest periods of not less than 1 hour each are granted on
each day overtime is worked and if 9 hours constitute
the maximum day during the remainder of the j, ear.

Manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, printing, baking, or laundering establishment. (Females 16 and over.) Excepti•ms: Canning,
preserving, or preparing for canning or preserving of perishable fruits
or vegetables.

Mississippi:

Code 1930, sec. 4653 _____ __ 00 hours _________ Permitted in cases of emergency or public necessity ____ _ Laundry, millinery, dressmaking store, office, mercantile establishment, theater, telegraph or telephone office, or any other occupation. (All females .) Exception: Domestic servants.

New Hampshire:

Public laws 1926, ch. 176,
secs. 15, 18; session laws
1937, ch. 36.

48 hours _______ __ lG¼ hours a day, 54 a week during 8 weeks in any 6month period if license granted by labor commissioner after hearing.

Manual or mechanical labor in any manufacturing establishment.
(Females; minors under 18.) Exception: Manufacture of munitions or supplies for the United States during war time .

New Jersey :

Cumul!ltive supplement
to compiled statutes
1911-24, sec.107-137c (1) .

54 hours, 6 days _ ---- ------------- --- --- --- ------------------ -------------- Manufacturing or mercantile establishment, bakery, laundry, or restaurant. (Females 16 and over.) Exceptions: Canneries engaged
in packing perishable product, such as fruits or vegetables; hotels,
or any other continuous business where working hours do not exceed
8 a day.

North Carolina:

Session laws 1937, ch. 409 __ 55 hours __ _____ __ - ---------------- -- ----------- ---- ----- ------- ------------ Seasonal industries in the process of conditioning and preserving perishable or semi-perishable commodities. (Females .)
Oregon:

Code 1930, v. 3, sec. 49-- _____ ___________ __ Allowed if time and one-half is paid for all work in ex- Canneries, driers, or packing plants. (Women 18 and over.)
cess of 10 hours a day.
322.1
State welfare commission 44 hours, 6 days_ ----- ------ ----------------------------------------------- Beauty parlor or barber shop. (Women 18 and over.)
order 1938 (unnumbered).


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South Dakota:

Compiled laws 1929, sec.
10014.

54 hours___ __ __ __ 12 hours a day may be worked on the 5 days preceding
Christmas.

Wisconsin:

Any employer or other person having control. (All females.) Ercep.
tions: F arm laborers, domestic servants, telegraph and telephone
operators, persons engaged in the care of Ii vestock.

Statutes 1935, sec. 103.02 __ 55 hours ____ ______ - --- ------ --- -- -- - ----- - --- --- ------- -- - -- --- ------- ------ Hotels.

(Females 16 and over.)

PART B.- FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Georgia:

Code 1933, sec. 54 -201_ ___ __ 60 hours __ ____ __ Not more than 10 days allowed to make up lost time
caused by accidents or other unavoidable circumstances. Permitted to work regularl y more than 10
hours a day provided weekly hours are not exceeded.

Cotton or woolen manufacturing establishments. (All employees .)
Excepti011s: Engineers, firemen, watchmen, mechanics. teamsters,
yard employees, clerical force, cleaners, repai rmen.

Code 1930, secs. 4646, 4652__ 60 hours ___ __ __ __ .30 minutes daily for the first fi days of the week, the addi tioni:il time so worked to be deducted from the last
day of the week; persons employed at night work only
are permitted to work 11¾ hours on the first 5 nights
of the week and 3¾ hours on Saturday night provided
weekly hours do not exceed 60. Indefinite overtime
allowed in cases of emergency or where public necessity requires.

Mill. cannery, workshop, factory, or manufacturi ng establishment.
(All employees 16 and over.) Exceptions: R ailroads or other public•
service corporations; persons, firms, or corporations handling or con•
verting perishable agricultural products in season and who work
adult male labor only; fruit or vegetable canneries .

Mississippi:

Oklahoma:

Industrial welfarecommission order no. 9, 1938.

Oregon:

57hours, 6days __ Allowed in emergencies ________ ___ ____ ___ ___ ___ _______ __ Retail drug industry-Class A,' i. e., selling to the consumer and not
for resale in any form of drugs, medicines, and poisons required to be
compounded or prepared on the premises or to be sold by a registered pharmacist. (All employees.) Ei:ception: By agreement between employer and employee, 2 half days may be taken off in lieu
of 1 complete day in 7.
58 hours, 6 days __ ___ _do ___________ ___ ______ __ ______ __ __ ____ ____ ____ __ ___ _ Retail drug industry- Class B I- See above definition, etc. (All
employees.)

Code 1930, v. 3, sec. 49- ____ _do _______ ___ 3 hours a day permitted if time and one-half is paid for
602.3
all work in exress of 10 hours.

Mill, factory, or manufacturing establishment.

(All persons.)

1 This section of the Oregon Code also sets maximum hours of 10 a day, 60 a week. in certain industries, but this provision in fact is superseded by orders of the State welfare
commission establishing shorter hours in the same industries. (See pp., 6-7.) The section applies to women in any manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment,
laundry, hotel, restaurant, telegraph or telephone e!:tablishment or office, or express or transportation company, and exempts harvesting, packing, curing, canning, or drying of any
variety of perishable fruit, vegetable, or fish.
1 See footn ote 3, p. 6, for definition of classes of cities.
' See order of the State welfare commission applying to manufacturing establishments, p. 6 of this bulletin.


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,-...

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

00

TEN-AND-A-QUARTER-HOUR, TEN-AND-A-HALF-HOUR, ELEVEN-HOUR, AND TWELVE.,HOUR LAWS
PART A.- TEN-AND-A•QUARTER·HOUR LAW FOR WOMEN WORKERS
State
New Hampshire:

Public laws 1926, ch. 176,
secs. 15, 17; session laws
1937, ch. 200.

Weekly limit

Overtime

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

54 hours ..... .... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - -- -- - - -- ---- - - -- -- -- -- ---- - - - - Manual or mechanical labor in any employment other than manufacturing. (Females; minors under 18.) Exceptions: Household labor,
nursing, domestic, hotel, and cabin labor including dining and restan•
rant service, boarding•house labor, operators in telephone and tele·
graph offices, farm labor; mercantile establishments on the 7 days
preceding Christmas Day, provided the weekly average for the year
does not exceed 54 hours.
PART B .-TEN-AND·A·HALF·HOUR LAW FOR WOMEN WORKERS

Tennessee:

Code 1932, secs. 5322-5324 .. 57 hours. __ _. ____ --- --- -- ------------ -- ------------------------ ---------- -- Workshops or factories, i.e., manufacturing, mills, mechanical, electrical, mercantile, art, and laundering establishments, printing,
telegraph, and telephone offices, department stores, or any kind of
establishment wherein labor is employed or machinery used. (Females 16 and over.) Exceptions: Domestic service, agricultural pur•
suits, fruit and vegetable canneries.
PART C.-ELEVEN·HOUR LAW FOR WOMEN WORKERS

Te,~ion laws 1933, oh. ll4__

154 how-, ___ ___ . --1-----------------.----------------------------------------1 CJ"ning and p,essing estab;ishm,nt.

(Frunales 15 sod ov".)

PART D.-ELEVEN-HOUR LAW FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Oklahoma:

Industrial welfare commis•
sion order no. 9, 1938.


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62 hours, 6 days_ -----------------------------·---------------------------- R etail drug industry-Class O t-i. e., selling to the consumer and not
for resale in any form of drugs, medicines, and poisons required to be
compounded or prepared on the premises or to be sold by a registered
pharmacist. (All employees.) Exception: By agreement between
employer and employee 2 half days may be taken off in lieu of 1
complete day in 7.

PART E.-TWELVE-HOUR LAW FOR WOMEN WORK:gRs

":l',~.:,a.:.,. 1478. __ _.•• 160 hom, •____ __ -1---______________________________________________________ -I Mueantile e,tahllshments.

s.

(All f,mal,s.J

WEEKLY HOUR LAWS
PART A.- FOR WOMEN WORKERS
Connecticut:

General statutes 1930, sec.
5197.

58 hours ________ _ -- ------------------ ---------------- ------- --------------- Bowling alley, shoe-shining establishment, billiard or pool room.
females.)

(All

Louisiana:

General statutes (Dart)
1932, sec. 4322.

60 hours _________ --- --------------------------------------------------- -- -- Telegraph office; mercantile establishment, cafe, or restaurant situated

and operated outside of any municipality or within any town or village of fewer than 2,500 inhabitants. (Females 16 and over.)
Session laws 1931, ch. 144__ 54 hours _________ ----- ---------------------------- ------- ------------- -- --- Telephone exchange employing more than 3 operators, mercantile establishment, store, restaurant, laundry, telegraph office, or express or
transportation company. (All females .) .Exception,1: Dec. 17-24,
inclusive; millinery shops or stores on the 8 days prior to Easter
Sunday; public service in cases of emergency or extraordinary public
requirement.
Minnesota:
54
hours
____
____
_
Allowed in case of emergency in which safety, health, Public housekeeping, manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, or launMason's Statutes, 1936
dry occupation, or telephone operator. (Females 16 and over.)
morals or welfare of the public may otherwise be
supplement, secs. 412&-2
affected; industrial commission may, under special
Exceptiom: Telephone operators in towns under 1,500 population;
to 412&-10.
rules, allow longer hours during emergency periods not
night employees who are at their place of employment not more than
12 hours and have opportunity for at least 4 hours' sleep; preserving
exceeding 4 weeks in the aggrn,gate in any calendar
year.
perishable fruits, grains, or vegetables, if employment does not last
more than 75 days in any 1 year; industrial commission, upon application of employer, may for cause shown1 exempt any employer or
class of employers from the provisions of tne act.
New York:
Session laws 1937, ch. 283__ 48 hours, 6 days_ -------- --- -- - ----------------------- ------- -------------- Messenger for a telegraph or messenger company in the distribution,
transmission, or delivery of goods or messages. (Females over 21.
Oregon :
Under 21, employment prohibited.)
State welfare commission 48 hours __ ____ ___ --------------------------------------------------------- - Student nurses. (Women.)
· order, 1937.
Maine:

PART B.-FOR A.LL EMPLOYEES
N orth Carolina:

Session laws 1937, ch. 409__ 55 hours _________ ---------------------------------------------------------- Laundries and dry-cleaning establishments. (All employees.)
Session laws 1937, ch. 129 __ 60 hours ________ Allowed in emergencies _________________________________ Household or domestic employees. (All employees.)

WashiDgton:

1


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

See footnote 3, p. 5, for definition of classes of cities.

1

See day--0!-rest law, p . 37.

.....

co

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS- Continued

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS
State
Arizona:

Supplement to revised
code 1936, sec. 1381.

Day of rest

Time for meals

Every employer shall provide
for 1 full day of rest a week.
Adult women working 6 hours
or less a day may be employed
7 days a week.

Rest periods

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

Any labor. (All females.) Exceptions: Domestic workers; nurses; telephone or telegraph office or exchange or railroad yard
office employing 3 or fewer women.

Arkansas:

No female shall be employed or Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile est ablishment; laundry; express or transportapermit.t ed to work more than
tion company. (All fe males .) Exceptions:
6 hours continuously without
Cotton factories; the gathering of fruits or
an interval of at le,ast % of an
farm products; railroad companies whose
hour. Exceptions: 6),f! hours'
continuous labor if employhours are regulated by Federal laws.
ment ends not later than 1:30
o'clock in the afternoon and
the worker is dismissed for the
remainder of the day; establishments employing fewer
than 3 females
.
_____
do
_________________
________
___
____________
_____
______
_____
___
__
__________
____ _-·· _______________
__ Hotel or restaurant . (All females.)
Industrial welfare commission order, 1919.
Digest of the statutes
1921, secs. 7104, 7114;
session laws 1935, ch .
150.

C111ifornia:

No female shall be employed
more than 6 days in any 1
week.

Industrial welfare commission ordersnos. 5a,
6a, 7a, 8a, lla, 15a,
1923; 3a, 1929.

No employer shall employ or
suffer or permit work more
than 6 days in any 1 week.

Ibid., nos. 6a and 8a,
1923.

Every woman shall be entitled
to 1 day's rest in 7. Exception: Emergencies if 1¾ times
the minimum rate is paid for
the first 8 hours and double
said rate and one-quarter for
all hours over 8.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Time allowed for noon luncheon
shall not be less than ¾ hour.

(See order no. 18 below)____ ___ __ (See order no. 18 below) ________ _ Mercantile industry; labeling and office work
in the fish-canning industry; laundry and
dry-cleaning industry; dried fruit-packing
industry and office work in the citrus packing and green fruit and vegetable packing
industries; manufacturing industry; nut
cracking and sorting industry; labeling in
the fruit and vegetable can!ling industry.
(Women; minors under 18.)
_____ do _______________ __ ________ ____ ___ do ____ ____ __ ___________ ____ __ Fish-canning industry; citrus packing and
green fruit and vegetable packing industries.
(Women 18 and over.) Exceptions: Office
work; labeling in the fish-canning industry.
(See preceding paragraph.)

Ibid ., no. 3a, 1929_______ Every woman shall 'be entitled _____ do _______ ____________ ___ __ ___ _____ do______ ____________ _________
to 1 day's rest in 7. Exception: Emergencies if 1¾ times
the minimum rate is paid for
the first 8 hours and double
said rate and one-quarter for
all hours over 8.
Ibid., no. 9a, 1933 __ _____ ------- --- -- -- ------------------ -- A meal period of ½ hour after (See Time for meals) _____ ______ _
not more than 5 hours' employment must be given .
Ibid., nos. 108 and 12a, Every employer shall provide
1923.
for 1 full day of rest a week.
Exceptions: Adult women
working 6 hours or less a day
may be employed 7 days a
week.
ot less ·than ½ hour nor more A meal period shall be provided
Ibid., no. 16a, 1931_ ____ _ --- --------------- ------ --------- than 1½ hours.
not later than 5½ hours after
an extra is told to and does
report for employment.
Ibid., no. 17, 1931_ _____ _ No employer shall employ any Every woman shall be entitled No woman shall be permitted to
woman to work more than 6
to at least 1 hour for meals .
work an excessive number of
days in any 1 week, except in
The meal period shall be not
hours without a meal period.
emergencies. Every woman
less than 30 minutes nor more
shall be entitled to 1 day's rest
than 1½ hours.
in 7. Exceptions: Emergencies if 1½ times the regular
rate is paid for the first hours
and double the regular rate
for all hours over 8.
o woman or minor shall be perIbid., no. 18, 1931_ ___ ___ ----------------------------- - -- -- Women and minors are entitled
mitted to work an excessive
to at least 1 hour for meals.
They are not permitted to
number of hours without a
meal period.
return to work in less than ½
hour.
General laws (Deering) Every person employed shall be
1931, Act 4718.
entitled to 1 day's rest in 7.
Unlawful for employer to
cause any omployeo to work
more than 6 days in 7. Exceptitm: Any CilSO of emergency.
Connecticut:
Cumulative supple- No female shall be employed
more than 6 days in 1 week .
ment to general statutes 1931- 1935, p. 704,
sec. 1605c; supplement 1937, p . 438, sec.
789d.


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Fruit and vegetable canning industry. (Women 18 and over.) Ezception: Labeling.
(See paragraph next preceding.)

General and professional offices. (Women;
minors under 18.)
Unclassified occupations. (Women; minors
under 18.) Hotels and restaurants. (All
females .)

Motion-picture industry-extras, i. e., women
or minors who act, sing, dance, or otherwise
perform at a wage of not more than $15 a day
or $65 a week. (Women; minors under 18.)
Motion-picture industry-women 18 and over
employed at not more than $40 a week who
do not ~t, sing, dance, or otherwise perform.

Any occupation, trade, or industry. (Women;
minors under 21.)

Any occupation of labo~. (All. employees.)
t_zj

1-3

r
Mercantile establishment, public restaurant,
cafe, dining room, barber shop, hair-dressing
or manicuring establishment, or photograph
gallery. (All females .) Exception: Dec. 17
to 2.5 in mercantile establishments if employer
grants at least 7 holidays with pay annually;
hotels.

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WO MEN WORKERS-Continued
State
Connecticut- Continued .
General statutes 1930,
sec. 6297.

Day of rest

Time for meals

Rest periods

Any commercial occupation or the work of any
industrial process. (All employees.) Excep!ions: Farm or personal service; druggists;
watchmen, superintendents or managers;
janitors; persons engaged solely In transportation; sale or delivery of milk, food, or newspapers; commercial occupations or industrial
processes which by their nature are required
to be continuous; necessary work of inspection, repair, or care of any manufacturing or
other plant or of any merchandise or stock.

No person shall require or permit any employee to do any
work of his occupation on Sunday, unless relieved of work
for 1 full regular working day
during the 6 days next ensuing.
Exception: Cases of emergency.

Delaware:

Revised code 1935, secs.
3592, 3594.

District of Columbia:

Code 1929, p. 181, secs.
21, 23 .


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Occupations or industries speclfied and
employees covered

No female shall be employed
more than 6 days in any 1
calendar week.

Not less than 30 minutes shall be
allowed for the midday or evening meal. (See Rest periods.)

No female shall be employed or
permitted to work more than 6
hours continuously without
an interval of at least¾ hour.
ExceptiO'TI: 6½ hours' continuous labor if employment
ends not later than 1:30 p. m .
and the worker is dismissed
for the remainder of the day.

Mercantile, mechanical, or manufacturing establishment; laundry; baking or printing
establishment; telephone and telegraph office
or exchange; restaurant; hotel; place of amusement; dressmaking establishment; or office.
(All females.) Exceptions: Canning or preserving or preparation for canning or preserving of perishable fruits or vegetables.

No female shall be employed
more than 6 days in any(
week .

(See Rest periods) ___ _____ __ ____ _ No female shall be employed or
permitted to work more than 6
hours continuously without
an interval or at least ¾ hour.
Exceptions: 6½ hours' continuous labor if such employment ends not later than 1:30
p. m. and the worker is dismissed for the remainder of the
day; establishments in which
fewer than 3 females are employed.

Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry, hotel , restaurant, telegraph or telephone establishment or office,
express or transportation company. (All
females .)

tv
tv

Dllnl>ls:

Revised statutes (Oahill) 19:15, ch. 48, secs.
22 (10)- 22 (16); session
laws 1937, p. 564.

Indiana:
Annotated statutes
(Burns) 1926, secs.
9416, 9419.
Kansas:

Commission of labor
and industry order
no. 1, 1936.

Ibid., no. 2, 1936________ Employment of women and
minors shall be limited to 6
days a week.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Factory (including cannery, laundry, and

Every employer shall allow at
least 24 consecutive hours of
rest in every calendar week, in
addition to regular period allowed at end of each day.

cleaning plant), mercantile establishment,
transportation or public service company,
hotel, apartment hotel, restaurant, hospital,
laundry, telephone or telegraph establishment, banking institution, brokerage business, theater, freight or passenger elevator, or
any employer engaged as a contractor to furnish labor upon contract to any person,
municipality, or county institution, or any
office thereof. (AU employees.) Exceptions:
Janitors, watchmen, superintendents, or foremen; employees engaged for not more than 3
hours on Sunday setting sponges in bakeries,
caring for live animals, maintaining fires or
electrical current, or necessary repairs to
boilers, machinery, equipment or power.

Manufacturing or mercantile establishment,
mine, quarry, laundry, renovating works,
bakery, printing office. (All employees.)

Not less than 60 minutes shall
be allowed for the noonday
meal. Exception: In special
cases the chief inspector may
permit a shorter time.
Relief for lunch shall be 1 hour.
Exception: Women's division
of the commission of labor and
industry on application of
both employer and employees
may reduce this period to ½
hour.
The meal relief shall be not less
than 45 minutes. Exceptions:
Commission of labor and industry may grant a shorter
lunch period in any particular
industry; if the industry is
operated on an 8-hour basis,
the lunch period shall be not
less than 30 minutes.

No female may be permitted to
work more than 6 consecutive
hours without relief for meals.

Laundry occupations, i. e., work in laundry,
dyeing, dry-cleaning, and pressing establishments. (Women; minors under 18.)

Not more than 5 hours shall be
worked in any 1 period without relief for meals

Manufacturing occupations, i. e., all processe3
in the production of commodities, including
work in florists' shops, and candy-making
departments of confectionery stores and
bakeries. (Women; minors 16 and under 18.)
Exceptions: Millinery workrooms, dressmaking establishments, hemstitching and
button shops, and the alteratio'n, drapery,
and upholstery departments of mercantile
establishments may obtain permission from
the women's division of the commission of
labor and industry to operate under the mercantile order.

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
Time for meals

Rest periods

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

Relief for meals to be fhour . Ex·
ception: The women's division
of the commission of labor and
industry, on application of
both employer and employees,
may reduce this period to 45
minutes.

No woman or minor shall be em·
ployed for more than 5 hours
without relief for meals.

Ibid ., no. 4, 1936 ••.•.• .• · ················-- ···· ·-·····-·-- Relief for meals shall be not less
than 20 minutes.

No woman or minor shall be per•
mitted to work for more than 5
hours without relief for meals .

Ibid ., no. 5, 1936 • • ••.• •. 6 days shall constitute a basic
week.

The day's work shall be performed in 2 shifts, 1 of which
shall not exceed 5 hours. Ez•
ception: Night operators regularly employed after 11 p. m.

Mercantile occupations, i. e., work in establish·
men ts operated for the purpose of trade in the
purchase or sale of any goods or merchandise,
including the sales force, wrapping employ•
ees, auditing and checking force, shippers in
the mail-order department, the receiving,
marking, and stockroom employees, sheetmusic saleswomen and demonstrators, and
all employees in such establishments in any
way directly connected with the sale, purchase, and disposition of goods, wares, and
merchandise. (Women: minors 16 and under
18.) Exception: Regularly registered phar•
macists.
Public housekeeping occupations, i. e. , the
work of waitresses in restaurants, hotel dining
rooms, and boarding houses; attendants at
ice-<:ream parlors, soda fountains, light•lunch
stands, steam•table or counter work in cafe·
terias and delicatessens where freshly cooked
foods are served, and confectionery stores
where lunches are served; chambermaids in
hotels, lodging, and boarding houses, and
hospitals; janitresses, car cleaners, and kitch•
en workers in hotels, ::restaurants, and hos•
pitals; elevator operators and cigar•stand and
cashier girls connected with such establishments. (Women; minor5 under 18.)
Telephone operators. (Women; minors under
18.)

State

Day of rest

Kansas-Continued.

Ibid., no. 3, 1936•. . .•• •. No woman or minor shall be em·
ployed for more than 6 days in
any 1 week.

Louisiana:

General statutes (Dart)
1932, sec. 4354.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Not less than 30 minutes for
lunch or recreation shall be al•
lowed each day between the
hours of 10 a. m. and 3 p. m.

(See Time for meals) .. __ ________ All persons, firms, or corporations doing business at retail. (All females.)

Ibid., secs. 4319, 4'322____ __ _______ __ _______ _______ ____ ___ __ 1 hour shall be allowed each day ___ __do ______ _______ _____ ____ __ __ _ Mill, factory, mine, packing house, manufacturing establishment, workshop, laundry, millifor dinner. Ezception: In case
nery or dressmaking store, mercantile estabtwo-thirds of employees so delishment, hotel, restaurant, theater, concert
gire, 30 minutes only may be
hall, in or about any place of amusement
allowed.
where intoxicating liquors are made or sold,
in any bowling alley, bootblacking establishment, freight or passenger elevator, in the
transmission or distribution of messages,
whether telegraph or tele;phone or any other
messages, or merchandise, or in any other occupation whatsoever. (Females 16 and over.)
Exceptions: Agricultural pursuits; store or
mercantile establishment on Saturday nights
in which more than 5 persons are employed.
Ibid ., sec. 4382 ___ ___ ____ - -- ----- - ------- - - - ----------- ---- Not less than 1 hour between 10 ____ _do __ ____ _____ ___ ________ ____ _ All proprietors, firms, or corporations doing
a. m. and 3 p. m. shall be albusiness at retail in cities of more than 50,000
inhabitants. (All clerks.)
lowed clerks for their mid-day
meal, lunch, or recreation.
Maine:
(See Rest periods) _____ ______ ___ _ No female shall be employed or Workshop, factory, manufacturing or mechaniRevised statutes 1930,
permitted to work more than 6
ch. 54, secs. 24, 27; sescal establishment, telephone exchange, merhours continuously without an
sion laws 1931, ch. 144.
cantile establishment, store, restaurant,
interval of at least 1 hour. Exlaundry, telegraph office, or express or transceptions: 6½ hours' continuous
portation company in which 3 or more females
labor if employment ends not
are employed. (All females .) Exceptions:
later than 1 ·30 p. m . and the
Public service in cases of emergency or extraworker is dismissed for the reordinary public requirement; manufacturing
mainder of the day.
establishment or business, the materials and
products of which are perishable; telephone
exchange where the operator at night is not
required to operate the switchboard continuously, but is able to sleep the major part of
the night.
Maryland:
Annotated code (Bag- ____________ ______ _____ ______ _____ ___ __do ____ ________ ____ ______ ___ __ No female shall be employed or Manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, printby) 1924., art . 100, sec.
permitted to work more than
ing, baking, or laundering establishment.
54.
6 hours continuously without
(All females.) Exceptions: Establishments
an interval of at least half an
employing fewer than 3 females; canning,
hour. Exceptions: 6½ hours'
preserving, or preparing for canning or precontinuous laborif employee is
serving of perishable fruits and vegetables.
not permitted to work during
the
remainder
of
the
day.
___ __ do ____ __ __ ___ . __ __ _____ ____ .._ Females shall have at least 2 rest Retail mercantile establishments outside of the
intervals of not less than 1 hour
city of Baltimore: Women employed 12 hours.
each.
on Saturdays, Christmas Eve, and the 5
working days preceding Christmas Eve. (All
females.)


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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Day of rest

Massachusetts:

General laws 1932, ch.
14!l, secs. 1, 100-101.

Ibid., secs. 1, 47, 49; session laws 1935, ch. 423;
1936, ch. 78; 1937, ch.

Every employee shall be allowed
24 consecutive hours of rest in
every 7 consecutive days.

Time for meals

Cumulative supplement to compiled
statutes 1933, sec. 48215.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

No woman or child shall be employed more than 6 hours at 1
time without an interval of at
least 45 minutes for a meal.
E1ci ptions: 6½ hours at any 1
time if such employment ends
not later than 1 o'clock in the
afternoon and the worker is
dismissed for the remainder of
the day; 7½ hours at any 1
time if worker is allowed sufficient opportunity tc eat lunch
on duty, and if such employment ends not later than 2
o'clock in the afternoon and
the worker is dismissed for the
remainder of the day.

(See Time for meals) ___________ _ Factory or workshop in which 5 or more women
or persons under 18 years of age are employed.
(Women; minors under 18.) Exceptions:
Iron works, glass works, paper mills, letterpress establishments, print works, bleaching
works, dyeing works, or continuous processes
exempted by the department of labor and
industries with the approval of the Govsrnor.

Not less than 30 minutes shall be
allowed for lunch.

Assembling plant, workshop, or mecha~ical
establishment. (All employees.)

221.

Nebraska:

Rest periods

Manufacturing or merr,antile establishment,
including premises used for a ·restaurant or
for publicly providing and serving meals;
premises used in connection with cleansing,
dyeing, laundering, or pressing fabrics or
wearing apparel. ~All employees.) Exception.,: Manufacture or distribution of gas, electricity, milk, or water; hotels, drug stores,
livery stables, or garages; transportation,
sale, or delivery of food; janitors; employees
whose duties include no work on Sunday
other than (1) setting sponges in bakeries,
(2) caring for live animals, (3) caring for
machinery; preparation, printing, publication, sale, or delivery of newspapers; farm or
personal service; any labor called for by an
emergency that could not reasonably be
anticipated.

Nevada:

Session laws 1937, ch. ----------- -- - - -- --·------- - --- --- At least 30 minutes shall be - --------- - -------- - ----- - -------- Private employment. (Females 18 and over.)
207.
allowed for a meal.
Exceptions: Domestic service; State, county,
or city employees.

ew Hampshire:

Session laws 1933, ch.
130; 1937, ch. 129.

New Jersey:

Cumulative supplement to compiled
statutes 1911-1924, sec.
107-1370 (1).

Every employer shall allow 24
consecutive hours of rest in
every 7 consecutive days.

Manufacturing or mercantile establishment,
commercial occupation, industrial proce .
(All employees.) Exceptions: Transportation, communication; manufacture or distribution of gas, electricity, milk, or water;
hotels, restaurants, drug stores, livery
stables, garages; transportation, sale, or
delivery of food; janitors, watchmen, firemen
employed at stationary plants, or caretakers;
employees whose duties on Sunday include
only setting sponges in bakeries, caring for
live animals, or caring for machinery and
plant equipment; preparation, printing,
publication, sale, or dehvery of newspapers
or periodicals with definite on-sale newsstand dates; farm or personal service; any
labor due to an emergency that could not
have been anticipated; any work connected
with the theater or motion-picture houses.

No female shall be employed,
allowed, or permitted to work
more than 6 days in any 1
week.

Manufacturing or mercantile establishment,
bakery, laundry, or restaurant. (All females.) Exceptions: Canneries engaged in
packing a perishable product, such as fruits
or vegetables; hotels or any other continuous
business where working hours do not exceed
8 a day.
(See Time for meals) ______ _____ _ Factory, workshop, mill, or place where the
manufacture of goods of any kind is carried
on. (All employees.)

t least ½ hour shall be allowed
for the noonday meal after contin.uous employment for not
more than 6 hours on any
workday except Saturday.

Ibid., secs. 107-28c, 10728d.

ow Mexico:

Session laws 1933, ch.

No female shall be em ployed
more than 48 hours in any 1
week of 6 days.

Not less than 30 minutes shall be
allowed for meal time.

Industrial or mercantile establishment, laundry, hotel, restaurant, care or eating house,
place of amusement, office (as stenographer,
bookkeeper, clerk, or in other clerical work),
public utility business. (All females.)
Exceptiom: Females engaged in interstate
commerce where the working hours are
regulated by any act of Congress; hospitals,
sanitariums, registered or practical nurses,
I<lcm ___________________ ________________________________ ___ ____ do ____________________________________ _-- ____ -- _______________ _ midwives, domestic servants.
Telephone or telegraph office. (All females.)
Exuptiom: Establishments where 5 or fewer
operators are employed; females engaged in
interstate commerce where the working
hours are regulated by any act of Congress.
148.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

t..:>
00

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOM EN WORKERS-Continued
State
New York:

Cahill's Consolidated Laws, 1930,
ch. 32, sec. 2;
Cumulative Supplement, 1931-35,
ch. 32, sec. 172;
(b) Session Laws 1938,
ch. 651;
(c) Session laws 1937,
ch. 282.
(d) Cahill's Consolidated Laws 1930,
ch . 32, sec. 183;
(e) Ibid., sec. 185.

(a)

Day uf rest

No female shall be employed
more than 6 days in any week.

'l'irne for meals

Rest periods

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

(See provisions for a.!J emplorees) . ___ ... _. _. _. __ __ .... _. .... .. ..... . (a) Factory, i.e., mill, workshop, or other
manufacturing establishment; laundry. (Females over 16.) (b) Mercantile establishment; beauty parlor. (Females over 16.)
Exceptions: Writers or reporters in newspaper
offices; duly licensed pharmacists. (c) Hotel
or restaurant. (Females over 16.) Exceptions: Singers and performers; resort and
seasonal hotels or restaurants in rural communities and in cities and villages of fewer
than lli,000 inhabitants. (d) Care, custody,
or operation of any freight or passenger elevator. (Females over 18.) (e) Messenger for
telegraph or messenger company in the distribution, transmission, or delivery of goods
or messages. (Females over 21.)

Session laws 1937, ch . . .. .. do .... . . . . .... .... .......... . Not less than 1 hour shall be al- ..................... . ..... . . . ... . Conductor or guard on any street surface,
electric, subway, or elevated railroad. (Fe283.
lowed for meals. Exception:
males over 21.)
Commissioner of labor may
grant permission for a shorter
meal period.
Session laws 1938, ch. 676. Every employer shall allow at (See following provisions)._ ..... .. __ . . _. _... _... . ....... . ........ . Factory, mercantile establishment, hotel,
restaurant, freight or passenger elevator in
least 24 consecutive hours of
any building or place; projectionist or opera•
rest in any calendar week.
tor of motion-picture machine, engineer and
fireman in place where motion pictures are
shown; place in which legitimate theater productions, such as dramatic and musical
productions, are shown or exhibited, including performers, engineers, and firemen;
building watchmen, janitors, superintendents, supervisors, managers. (All employees.) Exceptions: Resort and seasonal hotels
ana restaurani,~ in rural communities and in
cities and villages of fewer than 15,000 inhabitants; place wherein motion pictures, vaudeville, or incidental stage presentations or a
combination thereof are regularly given
throughout the week as the established policy
of such place, except engineers and firemen in


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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At least 60 minutes shall be allowed for the noonday meal or
midway during shift of more
than 6 hours between 1 p . m .
and 6 a. m. Exception: Commissioner may grant permis-

Ce.hill's Consolidated
Laws 1930, ch. 32, sec.
2; session laws 1937,
ch. 84.

AfP~~1J ::~~~~if~j 1~L

such place; foremen; employees in dairies,
creameries, milk condenseries, milk powder
factories, milk sugar factories, milk shipping
stations, butter and cheese factories, ice
cream manufacturing plants, and milk bottling plants, where not more than 7 persons are
employed. For not more than 3 hours on
Sunday, employees setting sponges in bakeries, caring for live animals, maintaining fires,
or making necessary repairs to boilers or
machinery.
Factory, i. e., mill, workshop, or other manufacturing establishment; laundry. (All employees.)

0

Session laws 1937, ch. 8~- -- --- - --- -- --- -- ------ ---- ------- -

lowed for the noonday meal or
midway during shift of more
than 6 hours between 1 p. m .
and 6 a. m . E xception: Commissioner may grant permission for a shorter meal period.
Idem _________________ -- --- - -- --- - ----- --- ---- -- - -- ------- At least 20 minutes shall be allowed for an addi tional meal
period between 5 imd 7 p. m .
orth Carolina:
Session laws 1937, ch.
409.

o employer shall employ any
female for more than 6 days in
any week.

Mercantile establishment, business office,
telegraph office, restaurant, hotel, apartment
house, theater or other place of amusement,
bowling alley, barber shop, shoe polishing
establishment, distribution or transmission
of merchandise, articles, or messages. (All
employees.)
Every person employed on shift starting before
noon and continuing after 7 p.m .

Any labor. (Females.) Exceptions: .Agricultural occupations, ice plants, cotton gins
and cottonseed oil mills, domestic service in
private homes and boarding houses, work of
persons over 18 in bona fide office, foremanship, clerical or supervisory capacity, executive positions, learned professions, commercial travelers, motion-picture theaters,
seasonal hotels and club houses, commercial
fishing, tobacco redrying plants, tobacco
warehouses; employers of not more than 8
persons in each place of business; charitable
institutions, hospitals; railroads, common
~t~i~s fn°t~?sf~~cc~~8:r~b6~~l~~~i;;
North Carolina Utilities Commission, and
utilities operated by municipalities or transportation agencies regulated by the Federal
Government; State or municipal employees;
hotels. Telegraph operators and clerks at
offices employing 3 or fewer persons may be
employed 7 days a week.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

t;rj

H

9

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

· LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State
North Dakota:

Day ot rest

Time for meals

Rest periods

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

No female shall be employed ----------- ----------------------- --------------------- ------------- Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry, hotel or restaurant,
more than 6 days in any 1 week.
telephone, or telegraph establishment or
office, express or transportation company.
(All females.) Exceptions: Villages or towns
of less than 500 population; rural telephone
exchanges; small telephone exchanges and
telegraph offices where special rules are
established.
Minimum wage de- No employer shall employ any 30 minutes shall be allowed for No woman shall be employed for Public housekeeping occupations, i. e., the
work of waitresses in restaurants, hotel dinpartment order no. 1,
woman for more than 28 days
more than 4 hours of continumeals if they are furnished on
1932.
ing rooms, boarding houses; attendants at
in 1 month in towns or less than
ous labor without a rest period.
the premises; 60 minutes for
ice-cream and light-lunch stands and steam500 population.
meals if employees must leave
table or counter work in cafeterias and
premises.
delicatessens where freshly cooked foods are
ser ved; chambermaids in hotels, lodging
houses, boarding houses, and hospitals;
janitresses, car cleaners, kitchen workers in
hotels, restaurants, and hospitals; elevator
operators. (Women 18 ond over.) Exception · In case of emergency, temporary suspension or modification may be permitted
by the department of agriculture and labor.
Ibid ., no. 2, 1922________ --------------------------------- - A 30-mlnute period for the noon No woman shall be employed for Manufacturing occupations, i. e., all processes
in the production of commodities, including
more than 5½ hours of continmeal shall be the minimum
work in dress-making shops, wholesale miluous labor without a rest
allowed.
linery houses, workrooms of retail millinery
period.
shops and in the drapery and furniturecovering workshops, the garment alteration,
art needlework, fur-garment making, and
millinery workrooms in mercantile stores;
creameries, produce houses, and the candymaking departments of retail candy stores
and of restaurants; bakery and biscuitmanufacturing establishments, candy manufacturing, bookbinding and job-press-feeding establishments. (Women 18 and over.)
Exception: In case of emergency, temporary
suspension or modification may be permitted by the department of agriculture and
labor.

Session laws 1927, ch.
142.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Ibid., no. •• 1932 ____ ____ -- -- ------- --- ---- -- -------- - ----- ____ _do_ _________ ___ ______ ______ __ No woman shall be employed for
more than 5 hours of conti nuous labor without a rest
period.

Ibid., no. 5, 1922 __ _____ _ - -- ------ ---- --- ------------ -- -- -- Adequate time and provision at
seasonable hours must be
given to the employees for
meals.
Ohio:
Session laws 1937_______ ------- ------ - ----- -- -- -- ---- -- - -- Females are entitled to not less
than 30 minutes for mealtime
in establishments where lunchrooms are provided, and to
not less than 1 hour where no
lunchrooms are provided .
No employer shall employ a fe- No employer shall employ a female on more than 6 days in
male for more than 5 hours of
any period of 7 consecutive
~ntinuous labor without a
days.
meal period of at least¼ hour.

Oklahoma:
Industrial welfare commission orders nos. 1,
2, 3, •• 6, 7, 8, 1938.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

No employee shall be employed
more than 6 days in any 7-day
period.

Laundry occupations, I. e., all processes connected with the receving, marking, washing,
cleaning, ironing, and distribution of washable or cleanable materials: work in laundry
departments in hotels, hospitals, and factories. (Women 18 and over.) Exception:
rn case of emergency, tem porary suspension
or m odification may be permitted by the
department of agriculture and labor.
Telephone exchanges. (Women 18 and over.)
Exception: I n case of emergency, tem porary
suspenson or modification may be permitt ed
by t he department of agriculture and labor.
Factory, workshop, business office, telephone
or tele~raph office, restaurant. bakery. millinery or dressmaking establishment, mercantile or other establishment . (All females.)
An y employment. (Women .) Exceptions:
Ag~cultural field occupations; domestic
service in private homes; telephone company
in emergency caused by public disaster;
women over 21 earning at least $35 a week in
bona fide execut ive positions; women in the
professions of medicine, law, teaching, and
social work; women over 21 in mercantile
establishments and telephone companies in
cit ies under 5,000 population; professional employees in hospitals, such as graduate and
student nurses, anesthetists, technicians,
grad uate and student dietitians and internes;
canneries or establishments engaged in preparing for use perishable goods during the
canning season .
Laundry industry, i. e., was hing, ironing, or
processing incidental thereto, for compensation, of clothing, napery , blankets, bed
clothing, or fabrics of any kind whatsoever
in private plants where labor is employed;
laundry service for their own use by business
establishments, clubs, 'hotels, hospitals, or
institutions. (All employees.) Exceptions:
Eleemosynary institutions, benevolent organizations or institutions organized and
supported wholly on a nonprofit basis, and
State-supported institutions; plant m aintenance men, 'dri vers; office workers: a plant
forem an, and superintendent in plants having more than 5 employees.

t,<j
~

r

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State
Oklahoma-Continued.
Industrial welfare commission orders nos. 1,
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 1938.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Day of rest

No employee shall be employed
more than 6 days in any 7-day
period.

Time for meals

Rest periods

Occupations c.r industries specified. and
employees covered

Laundry occupation, i. e. all processes directly
concerned with the cleansing, ironing, pressing, or finishing of laundry wares.
Cleaning and dyeing industry, i. e., any place
or vehicle where the service of dry cleaning,
wet cleaning, each a process incidental to
dry cleaning, spotting and/or finishing any
fabric that is rendered for hire or sold, resold,
or offered for sale or resale. (All employees.)
Exceptions: Plant maintenance men, drivers;
office workers; delivery men; a plant foreman
and superintendent in plants having more
than 5 employees.
Fabric, i. e., any article of wearing apparel,
including bats, household furnishings, rugs,
textiles, furs, and leather.
Retail mercantile industry, i. e., selling of merchandise to the consumer and not for the
purpose of resalo in any form; servicing, purchase or sale of any goods, wares or merchandisa; includes the sales, wrapping, auditing
or checking force, shippers in the mail order
department, and outside delivery men . (All
employees.) Exceptions: Office employees,
janitors: for each 5 full -time employees 1
executive receiving at least $25 a week.
Rest aurant industry, i. e., any establishment
that prepares and offers for sale for profit,
food for consumption, either on any of its
premises, or by catering, banquet, box-lunch,
or curb service. (All employees.) Exceptions: For every 8 employees in an establish•
ment 1 executive or supervisor receiving at
least $20 a week in class A; 1 receiving at
least $19 a week in class B; 1 receiving at least
$18 a week in class C.
Food, i. e., nutritive material intended for
human consumption, in solid or liquid form,
whether cooked or uncooked, or otherwise
preµared, excluding however, medicinal or
quasimedicinal preparations. fountain prod-

ucts such as all carbona ted and aerated
drinks, ice cream and its derivatives, bottle
beverages, and drinks.
Office building industry, i. e., elevator operators, janitresses, maids, and charwomen in
any buildings used for office purposes. (All
employees .)
Wholesaling and distributing industry. (All
employees.) Exreptions: Executives or super•
visors recei ving Rt least. $30 a week and/or
outside salesmen receiving at least $25 a week
provide'.l delivery or merchandise is no part
or salesmen's duty.
Automotive industry, l. e., retailing new or
used motor vehicles and servicing or repairing
them, including the sale and/or installation of
new or used parts, or accessories; garages,
storage, and parking, including washing,
other cleaning, lubricating, repairing, towing
and driving of customers' cars; filling stations
(any place whose principal business is selling
at retail gasoline, oils, greases, lubricants, and
other petroleum products, also automobile
equipmentt supplies and accessories). (All
employees.,
Hotel industry, l. e., businesses that extend
lodging to the general public for profit and
that have 10 or more guest rooms. (All
employees.) Exceptions: Hotel detectives
and 1 executive for each estabHshment.
Retail drug industry, i. e., selling to the consumer and not for resale in any form or drugs,
medicines, and poisons required to be compounded or prepared on the premises or to
be sold by a registered pharmacist. (All
employees.)

Ibid., nos. 5 and 9, 1938_ No employee shall be employed
more than 6 days in any 7-day
pe iod. Exception: By mutual
agreement between employer
and employee 2 half days may
be taken of! in lieu of 1 complete day in 7.

Orefon:

State welfare commission orders, 1937 (unnumbered) .
No person shall employ any
woman for more than 6 days
in 1 calendar week.

No woman or minor girl shall be
employed on two successive
days without an interval of 9
hours· rest between such days.
(See Rest periods) ___________ ___ _ No person shall employ any
woman for more than 6 hours
or continuous labor witfiout a
rest period of at least 45 min-

utes.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

All occupations. (All females.)
Needlecraft occupations, I. e., desfgnln11:, cutting, stitching, weaving, inspecting, knitting,
hemstitchine;, altering, sorting of rags or materials, etc., whether by hand or by machine,
of materials for clothing, wearing apparel,
upholstery, tents, awnings, bags, and draperies. (Women 18 and over.)

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FQR MEALS, AND REST PER_IODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Oregon-Oontinued.
State welfare commission orders, 1937 (unnumbered).


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Day of rest

Time for meals

Rest periods

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

Manufacturing occup'!tions, i. e., all processes
of manufacture and production of commodities, including photographing, creamery
prod11cts, bakery products, canning of meat,
poultry, and fish, the process of preparing
meat and poultry for market, nut cracking
and sorting, and all other processes in the
production of commodities not covered by
any other special order. (Women 18 and
over.)
•.•.• do ••••.•..•.....•.•.•.•••••••.•... do .•••.•.••••.••••••••............ do .•••..••.•....•............ Office occupations, i. e., work as stenographers,
bookkeepers, typists, billing clerks, filing
clerks, cashiers, checkers, invoicers, comptometer operators, audit.ors, library attendants, and all kinds of clerical work. (Women 18 and over.)
.•..• do ••••.••••••••••••••••••••••..... do .•...•••••••••••••••••..... . _... do ......•.................... Personal service occupations, i. e., work as
manicurists, beauty parlor operators, masseuses, assistants in doctors' and dentists'
offices and in laboratories, demonstrators of
products, cashiers and ushers in theaters and
places of amusement, assistants in broadcasting and radio service, matrons in public
buildings or institutions, elevator operators
and starters, janitresse.s and railroad car
cleaners, and work of like nature. (Women
18 and over.)
.....•••••.•••••••••••••••••••••.•..... do •••••••••••••••••••••••.....••.. do •..••••••••••••............ Public housekeeping occupations, i. e., the
work of waitresses, cooks, kitchen helpers,
chambermaids, janitresses, elevator opera•
tors, and general attendants in hotels, res•
taurants, boarding houses, dormitories at
institutions of learning, hospitals, sanitariums, cafeterias, light lunch stands, retail
candy, ice cream and soft drink parlors,
delicatessens, and beer parlors. (Women 18
and over.
No person shall employ any
woman for more than 6 days
in 1 calendar week.

(See Rest periods) ••••••••••.•.. No person shall employ any
woman for more than 6 hours
of continuous labor without a
rest period of at least 45 minutes.

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----- --------- ____________________ _____ do ___________________________ _____ do _________________ __ _______ _ Telephone or telegraph occupations. (Wom•
en 18 and over.)
No person shall employ any _____ do _________________________ __ o person shall employ any Laundry, cleaning, and dyeing occupations,
i. e., work in all places where 2 or more perwoman for more than 5 hours
woman for more than 6 days
sons are engaged in washing, cleaning, or
of continuous labor without a
in 1 calendar week.
dyeing clothing. washable and cleanable marest period of at least 45 minteri!\ls, directly or indirectly connected with
utes.
such places of business; work in the process
of reet>iving, marking, washing, cleaning,
d yeing, ironing, and distribution of washable and cleanable materials. (Women 18
and over.)
_____ do _________________ __________ No person shall employ any No person shall employ any Mercantile occupations, i. e., work in establishments operated for the purpose of trade
woman for more than 6 hours
woman for more than 6 hours
in the purchase or sale of goods or merchanof continuous labor without a
of continuous labor without a
dise, including the sales force, wrapping emrest period of 10 minutes each
lunch period of at least 45
ployees, auditing or check-inspection force,
minutes.
½ day.
shoppers in the mail-order department, the
receiving and shipping department, marking and stockroom employees, sheet-music
saleswomen, altering and tailoring department, soda fountain and lunchroom employees, demonstrators, models for fashions,
counter cashiers, elevator operators and
starters. (Women 18 and over.)
No person shall employ nny
Cherry stemming and pitting. (Women 18
and over.)
woman for more than 6 days
in any calendar week .
o person shall employ any Beauty parlor or barber shop. (Women 18
Ibid., 1938 (unnumbero person shall employ any (See Rest periods) ______________ _
ed) .
and over.)
woman more than 6 hours
woman more than 6 days in l
continuously without a rest
calendar week.
period of at least 45 minutes.
o person shall employ any
Hospitals, i. e., cooks, waitresses, kitchen
woman more than 9 hours a
helpers, janitres.•es, or general charwomen.
day or « hours a week with(Women 18 and over.) E:rceptioris: Graduout a 36-hour rest period folate nurses, dietitians, laboratory workers;
lowing. Exception: 7 days a
student nurses if work is confined to service
week may be worked if hours
to patients or work in clas&ooms.
do not exceed 7 a day, « a
week.


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

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ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS--Continued
State

Day of rest

Pennsylvama:

Session laws 1937, Act
322; i:ndustrhl hoard
rules, December 1937.


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No female shall be employed or
permitted to work for more
than 5½ days 1-n any one
week. If strict application of
law imposes unnecessary
hards)lip, department of labor
and industry, with approval
of industrial board, may prescribe variation. Variations
allowed are for employees 18
years of age and over as follows:
The half day shall be considered
not more than 5 hours.
More than 5½ days a week
may be worked in emergencies (as defined); by outside
representatives; by students
employed on part time in
educational institutions.
6 days a week may be worked
in retail trade, mail-order
business, office building operation and maintenance, hotels
and restaurants, newspaper
publishing (in emergency),
tax specialists in banking and
brokerage institutions for limited period (pending study),
estabhshments employing 3
or fewer persons (pending
study).
6 days of 6 hours each, with
15-minute rest period are considered in conformance with
5½-day week provided by
law.

Time for meals

Rest periods

(See Rest periods). _____________ _ No female shall be employed or
permitted to work more than
5 lrnurs continuously without
nn interval of at least 30
minutes.
Exceptions: Contin uous industries; processing
that must be completed to
avoid spoilage; employees with
~egular duties away from factory. office or depat, if permitted time to eat without
danger to health.
6 days of 6 consecutive hours
each are permitted if employee
is then dismissed for the day
and a 15-winute rest period il:!
provided.

Occupations er industries specitied and
employees covered

Any establishment, I. e., any place where work
is done for compensation of any sort to w hornever payable. (All females.) Exceptions:
Agricultural field occupat.J/ons; domestic
service in privai.e homes, orphans' homes
and industrial schools; nurses in hospitals;
executives over 21 and private secretaries
earning at least $25 a week.

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Longer hours than specified in
law are allowed. (See hour
law.)

Session laws 1937, Act
322.

The 1 day of rest in 7 may be
subdivided into 2 days of 12
hours each with approval of
Industrial board.

Employees shall be allowed at
least ½-hour lunch period for
each 5 hours of employment.
Not more than 6 consecutive
hours of work shall be allowed
without a lunch period.

(See Time for meals)____________ Canning, processing, and packing of perishobla
fruit or vegetable products. (All females.)

Hotels; boarding houses; chnritablo, ooucational, and religious Institutions. (All
females.)

Philippine Islands:

Session laws 1923, Act
3071, sec. 2.

Not less than 60minutes shall be -- ------------------------------ - - Factory, shop, industrial or mercantile estaballowed for the noonday meal.
lishment. (Women and children.)

Puerto Rico:

Sestlon hlws 1919, Act --- --------- --- ---- ---- ----------- Not less than 1 hour___________ __ No woman shall work for more Any lucrative occupation. (Women over 16.)
73, sec. 2; 1930, Act 28.
than 4 hours continuously.
J,ows 1935, second spe- ______ ---------- -- ---------------- _____ do ______________________ ____ ---------- - ---------------------- _ Any commercial, industrial, or agricultural escial session, Act 49.
tablishment or any other lucrative business.
(All employees.)
South Carolina:
Suppkment to Code Unlawful to permit employment
Manufacturing establishment; mercantile eson the Sabbath day.
tablishment, i. e., any place where goods or
l!l3t, sec. 1478-1.
wares are offered or exposed for sale. (All
females.) Erceptio·n.,: Cafeterias or restaurants.
Session laws 1937, Act Unlawful to request, require,
Textile manufacturing, finishing, dyeing, printor permit work on Sunday.
326.
ing, or processing plant. (All regular emException: Work of absolute
ployees, i. e., usually working 20 hours or
necessity or emergency if time
more a week.)
and one-half is paid.
Session laws 1938, Act No employer shall employ or
Cotton, silk, rayon, or woolen textile mill .
759.
suffer or permit an employee
Erceptiona: Office and supervisory staff,
to work for more than 5 days
engineers, firemen, watchmen, shipping, outin any 7 consecutive days.
side and repair-shop crews, carpenters, mechanics, electricians.
Utah:

Industrial commission
order no. 1, 1938.

Industrial commission.
Standards for women
and children in industry, 1937.

Female and minor employees
shall be given at least 1 day of
n:st in 7.

Not longer than 1 hour may be
allowed for each regular meal
period.

At least 10 minutes of rest shall
be allowed for each 4 hours or
fraction thereof.

At least ½ hour must be provided for meals.

Adult women shall not be required to work !onger than 6
hours without rest and food.
If employee must be relieved by
special worker hefora leaving
line of duty, 10-minute rest
period rnust iJe allowed morning and afternoon.

Retail trade occupation, t. e., all selling of
merchandise to the consumer, not for the
purpose of resale in any form . Exception:
Educational institutions that directly offer
for sale merchandise on the premises for the
express accommodation or enrolled students.
Any establishment. Exception: Commission
may grant exemptions if enforcement would
not materially increase the comfort, health
or safety of employees, and would work undue hardship on the employer.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

LAWS PROVIDING FOR A DAY OF REST, TIME FOR MEALS, AND REST PERIODS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Day of rest

Washineton:
Industrial welfare committee order no. 23,

Time for meals

Rest periods

No female shall be employed
more than 6 days in any 1
week. Exceptions: Emergencies, when women may be employed 10 days before a day of
rest is given them, provided
they receive at least 4 days'
rest in any 28-day period.

(See Rest periods) ____________ ... No female shall be employed
more than 5 hours without a
rest period of at least½ hour.

Ibid ., no. 25, 1921.______ Minimum wage is set for a 6-day
week.

No female shall be employed on
a shift of more than 6 hours
without a rest period of 15
minutes.

1921.

Occupations or industries specified and
employees covered

Public housekeeping, i. e., the work of linenroom girls, chambermaids, cleaners, kitchen
girls, dishwashers, pantry girls, pantry servers, waitresses, counter girls, hus girls, elevator operators, janitresses, iaundry workers
(except where a commercial laundry is operated), and any other occupation which
would properly be classified under public
housekeeping. The establishments shall include: Hotels, rooming houses, boarding
houses, restaurants, cafes, . cafeterias, lunch
rooms, tea rooms, apartment houses, hospitals (not nurses), philanthropic institutions,
and any other which may be properly classified under this industry. (Females over 18.)
Laundry, dry-cleaning or dye-works occupation, trade, or industry. (Females over 18.)

Telephone or telegraph or any other public
occupation. (All females .) Exceptions: Occupations regulated by orders numbered 23,
25, 28, and 29.
Not less than 1 hour shall be al- ·················-·-··-·····-····· Mercantile establishment. (All females.)
lowed for noonday luncheon.
· ····-······-··--······-······ ·· -- · ·-··-···············-·-········· · Manufacturing occupation, trade, or industry.
(Females over 18.)
(See Rest periods)___________ ____ Rest periods of not less than 15 Cannery (fruit, vegetable, fish, shellfish, dog
minutes during each shift
foods, or any other products preserved for
must be provided.
food purposes). (Women; minors under 18.)

Ibid ., no. 'n, 1921. ..... _ ..... do.·-- ---·---··· · ··········· Not less than 1 hour shall be allowed for a luncheon period.
Ibid ., no. 28, 1921. ........... do •....•. .••. ... . . ..........
Ibid., no. 29, 1921....... No female shall be employed for
more than 6 days in any 1 week.
Ibid., no. 34, 1937....•. . ·····------- --- -------- - -------- ··
Wisconsin:
Statutes,

1935,

103.01-103.02.

secs. ·-------·-----·---·-·-·-- --- ···-- - Not less than 1 hour shall be allowed during each day or night
for dinner or other meals.


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Place of employment, i. e., any manufactory,
mechanical or mercantile establishment,
beauty parlor, laundry, restaurant, confectionery store, telegraph or telephone office or
exchange, express or transportation establishment. (Females 18 and over.)

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The lunch period may be 45 minutes.

Industrial comm1ss1on
order no. 5, 1933.

Industrial com.m1ss1on
orders regulating factories canning peas,
beans, cherries, corn,
strawberries, tomatoes, or spinach, 1937.
Statutes, 1935, sec.
351.50; session laws
1937, ch. 21.

Manufactories and laundries that have convenient, adequately equipped lunch rooms, if
females are employed more than 6 hours in
any 24-hour period. (All females.)
ManufactJries and laundries i! females are
employed more than 4½ hours but not more
than 6 hours in a 24-hour period. (All
females.)

A lunch period o! not less than 15
minutes shall be allowed to all
females at the same time and as
near as possible the middle o!
the work period.
Meal period sha II be not less than (See Time for meals) ____________ Restaurants where employees eat on premises.
(All females.)
30 minutes provided the
stretch o! labor between meals
does not exceed 5 hours.
Meal periods o! not less than 30 The stretch of work between Factories canning peas, beans, cherries, corn,
strawberries, tomatoes, or spinach. (Wommeal periods may never exceed
minutes must be given to all
en.)
6 hours. There must be a rest
women ~t the usual time for
period of at least 9 consecutive
meals, i.e., at or about 12 noon,
hours during each 24 hours.
6 p. m., and 12 midnight.
At least 24 consecutive hours o!
rest shall be allowed in every 7
consecutive days.

Factory or mercantile establishment. (All
employees.) Exceptions: Janitors, watchmen; manufacture o! butter, cheese, or other
dairy products, distribution o! milk or
cream; canneries, bakeries, flour and feed
mills, hotels and restaurants; employees
whose duties include no work on Sunday
other than caring !or live animals, or maintaining fires; any labor called !or by an
emergency that could not reasonably have
been anticipated; in case o! breakdown o!
machinery or equipmen,t or other emergency
in order to prevent serious injury to person,
damage to property, or suspension of necessary operations.

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

NIGHT-WORK LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS
Prohibition of
night work

State

Limitation of night work

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

California:

Industrial welfare commission 10 p. m. to Oa. m __ --- -------------------~---------------- - Laundry and dry-cleaning industry; dried-fruit packing industry. (Women;
minors under 18.)
orders nos. 7c. and Sa, 1923.
Ibid., nos. lla and 15a, 1923 _______ 11 p. m. to 6 a. m __ --- ------------------------------------ - Manufacturing industry; nut cracking and sorting industry. (Women 18
and over.) E-cceptivn: In continuous processes under a permit from the
industrial welfare commission if time and one-half is paid.

Connecticut:

Manufacturing (including laundry), mechanical, or mercantile establishment,
public restaurant, cafc, dining room, barber shop, hairdressing or manicuring
establishment, or photograph gallery. (All females.) Exceptions: Hotels,
physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, attorneys, teachers, social service
workers. In the event of war or other serious emergency, governor may
suspend limitations in manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishr.1ents.
General statutesl930, sec. 5197 ____ After 10 p . m ____ __ ------------------------ ---------------- Bowling alley, shoe-shining establishment, billard or pool room. (All females.)

General statues 1930, sec. 2363; cumulative supplement 1931-1935,
p . 704, sec. 1605c; supplement.
1937, p . 438, sec. 790d.

lOp. m. to 6 a. m __ ----- --------------------------------- --

Delaware:

Revised code 1935, sec. 3592_______ 10 p. m . to 6 a. m ___ ---------- ------------------ -- ------ ---- Mechanical or manufacturing establishment, laundry, baking or printing
establishment, office, or dre ·smaking establishment. (Females 16 and over.)
Exceptions: Canning or pre erving or preparation for canning or preserving
of perishable fruits and vegetables; establishments where continuous operations are necessary.
If any part of the work is performed Mercantile establishment, telepllone and telegraph office or exchange, restaurant,
between 11 p. m . and 7 a. m. not
hotel, place of amusement. (Females 16 and over.)
more than 8 hours of work in any 24
are permitted.
Ibid., sec. 3607 _________________________ do _____________ -- -- ---- --- ----------- ------ ----------- - Messenger for telegraph, telephone, or messenger company in the distribution,
collection, transmission, or delivery of goods or messages in cities over 20,000
population. (Persons under 21.)

District of Columbia:

t

Code 1929, p . 84, sec. 116_______ ____ 7 p . m. to Ga:. m __ ------- ----------------- --------------- - Messengers. (Females between 18 and 21.)

Indiana:

Session laws 1933, ch. 68___________ 10 p. m. to Ga. m __ ------ -------------- ---------- --------- - Manufacturing. (Females 18 and over.) Exceptions: Establishments operating 2 shifts of not more than 8 hours each and not more than 5 days a week.
12 p. m. to 6 a. m __ ---------------------------------------- Manufacturing establishments operating 2 shifts of not more than 8 hours each
and not more than 5 days a week. (Females 18 and over.)
Kansas:
Com.mission of labor and industry 9 p. m. to 6 a. m __ --- ---------------------------------- -- - Laundry occupations, i.e., work in laundry, dyeing, dry-cleaning, and pressing
order no. 1, 1936.
establishments. (Women; minors under 18.


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Ibid., no. 2, 1936________________________ do _____________ ---------------------------------------- Manufacturing occupations, i.e., all processes in the production of commodities,
including work in florists' shops, and candy.making departments of con•
fectionery stores and bakeries . ('Women; minors 16 and under 18.) Except•
tions: Millinery workrooms, dressmaking estaolishments, hemstitching o.nd
button shops, and the alteration, drapery, and upholstery departments of
mercantile establishments may obtain permission from the women's division
of the commission of labor and industry to operate under the mercantile order.
Ibid., no. 3, 1936-·········---··-·· · After 9 p . m . . . . . .. ---· -----···················-····· --- ·- - Mercantile occupations, i. e., work in establishments operated for the purpose of
trade in the purchase or sale of any goods or merchand ise, including the sales
force, wrapping employees, auditing and checking force, shippers in the mail•
order department, the receiving, marking, and stockroom employees, sheet·
music saleswomen and demonstrators, and all employees in such establishments in any way directly connected with the sale, purchase, and disposition
of goods, wares, and merchandise. (Women; mmors 16 and under 18.)
Exceptions: The women's division of the commission of labor and industry
may permit mercantile establishments in agricultural communities to
remain open 1 day a week until 10 p. m ., for any specified number of weeks
between June 1 and Sept 15; regularly registered pbarmacists.
Ibid., no. 4, 1936 ...•...•••••.•.•.. 12 p. m. to 5 a. m .. --··--·--·- ·· ·····-·······-···--····· · -- Public housekeepin~, i. e., the work of waitresses 1n restaurants, hotel dining
rooms, and boardmg houses; attendants at ice-cream parlors, soda fountains,
light-lunch stands, steam-table or counter work in cafeterias and delicatessens
where freshly cooked foods are served, and confectionery stores where lunches
are served; chambermaids in hotels, lodging and boarding houses, and hospital!,; janitresses, car cleaners, and kitchen workers in hotels, restaurants, and
hospitals; elevator operators and cigar-stand girls and cashier girls connected
with such establishments. (Women under 21.)
Ibid., no. 5, 1936..•••.••..•..•. - .. - -······--········-- - Total hours-work time plus rest and Telephone operators. (Women; minors under 18.)
sleep time - shall not exceed 12 for ~II
operators regularly employed after
11 p. m.
Maryland:
.Annotated code (Bagby) 1924, art.
If any work is performed between 10 Manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, printing, baking, or laundering estab100. sec. M.
p. m. and 6 a. m., not more than 8
lishment. (Females 16 and over.) Exception.~: Canning, preserving, or
hours' work in any 1 day is perpreparing for canning or preservmg of perishable fruits and vegetables.
mitted.
Massachusetts:
Session laws 1936, ch. 170. .•••• _.__ 10 p. m. to 6 a. m . . · ····-·······················--······ · -- Manufacturing or mechanical establishment . (Females 16 and over.) Exceptions: Manufacture of textile goods or leather.
6 p. m . to 6 a . m ... -·······-·- · ----··-·····-· - · -····- ····- · Man ufacturing of textile goods 2 or leather. (Females 16 and over.)
Session laws 1933, ch. 193; 1935, ch. 10 p. m. to 5 a. m ... -· -· · ·-· ··-- -- --- - - -· - -· -- ·-· · -· · · ·· · · __ Mercantile establishment, barber shop, bootblack stand or establishment,
public stable, garage, brick or lumber yard, telephone exchange, telegraph
203.
or messenger office, or in the construction or repair of buildings. or in any
contract or wage-earning industry carried on in tenement or other houses or
in any radio-broadcasting station except as talent . (Girls between 16 and
21. ) Exception: Operators m regular service telephone exchanges may work
until 11 p. m.
1 Not included as one of the State;, having nigbt•work laws for adult women.
2 Successive acts of the legislature, offective u ntil Apr. 1, 1939, have a'..ltborized the commissioner of labor and industries to permit the employment of women over 21 in textile
manufacturing until 10 p. m. subject to restrictions and conditions prescribed by the commissioner. (Session laws 1933, ch. 347; 19:i5, ch. 429; 1936, ch. 154; 1937, ch. 153; 1938, ch. 68.)


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

NIGHT-WORK LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued
State

Prohibition of
night work

Limitation of night work

Occupations or industries specified and employees covereti

Nebraska:

Cumulative supplement to compiled statutes 1933, sec. 48-205.
New Hampshire:
Public laws 1926, ch. 176, secs.
15-18; session laws 1937, ch. 200.

12:30a. m. to6a.m_ ---------------------------------------- Manufacturing, mechanical, or mercantile establishment, laundry, hotel,
restaurant, or office in metropolitan cities and cities of the first class. (Females
16 and over.) Exception: Public-service corporations.
If any work is performed between

8 p. m. and 6 a. m. on more than 2
nights a week, not more than 8 hours
in any 24 or more than 48 hours in
any week are permitted.

Manual or mechanical labor in any employment. (Females; minors under 18.)
Exceptions: Household labor, nursing, domestic, hotel, and cabin labor
including dining and restaurant service, boarding-house labor, operators in
telephone and telegraph offices, farm labor, manufacture of munitions or
suppl,es for the United States or the State during war time; mercantile establishments on the 7 days preceding Christmas Day, provided the weekly
average for the year does not exceed 54 hours.

New Jersey:
Session laws 1937, ch. 113__________ 12 p. m. to 7 a. m __ ---------------------------------------- Manufacturing establishment, bakery, restaurant, or laundry. (Females 16
and over.) Exceptions: Canneries engaged m packing a perishable product,
such as fruits or vegetables; glass factories; hotel restaurants.
for telegraph, telephone, or messenger company. (Persons under 21
Messenger
Cumulative supplement to com- 10 p. m . to 5 a. m __ ---- ---- - --------- --- - -- ------------- --in first-class cities: under 18, elsewhere.) ExceptiO'TI: In extraordinary cirpiled statutes 1911-24, sec. 107137B (1) .
cumstances commissioner of labor may permit delivery of telegrams or telephone messages.
New York:
Cahill's Consolidated Laws 1930, 10 p. m. to 6 a. m __ --- --------- ---- ---- --- --- -------------- Factory, i e., mill, workshop, or other manufacturing establishment; laundry .
ch. 32, secs. 2, 172.
(Females over 21.) Exceptions: Proofreaders in newspaper-publishing establishments, linotypists, and monotypists.
i.e., mill, workshop, or other manufacturing establishment; laundry.
Factory,
9 p. m. to 6 a. m __ ----- --------------- --- ------ ---- ----- -(Females under 21.)
Session laws 1938, ch. 651__________ 10 p. m. to 7 a. m __ ---------------------------------------- Mercantile establishment or beauty parlor. (Females over 16 .) Exceptions:
Dec . 18-24, inclusive, in mercantile establishments; writers or reporters in
newspaper offices; duly licensed pharmacists.
Session laws 1937, ch. 282 ________ 12 p. m. to 6 a. m __ - ------- ------------------ -- ---- -- --- -- - Restaurant . (Females 21 and over.) Exceptions: Singers and performers;
attendants in ladies' cloakrooms and parlors; employees in or in connection with dining rooms and kitchen of hotels; hat-check, cigarette, or flower
girls; resort or seasonal hotels or restaurants in rural communities and in
cities of less than 15,000 population.
Idem______________________________ 10 p. m. to 6 a. m __ -------------------------- ~- ------ ------ Hotel or restaurant. (Females under 21.) Exceptions: Singers and performers; resort or seasonal hotels or restaurants in rural communities and in cities
of less than 15,000 population.
Ibid ., chs. 281, !!82_________________ 10 p. m . to 7 a. m __ --------------------------- --- ----- ---- - Care, custody, or operatior of any freight or passenger elevator. (Females


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

over 18.) Erceptiom: Hotels and restaurants. If elev!\tor is used in connection with business or industry in which employment of women before
7 a. m. is not prohibited, operator may begin work at 6 a. m.
Ibid., ch. 283_______ _______________ 10 p. m. to 6 a. m ___ -- ------------------------------------- _ Conductor or guard on any street surface, electric, subway, or elevated railroad. (Females over 21.)
Idem_________ _____________________ 10 p. m. to 7 a. m ___ ---- ---------------------------------- - _ Messenger for a telegraph or messenger company ip. the distribution, transmission, or delivery of goods or messages. (Females over 21. )
North Dakota:

Elevator operator!I, (Women 18 and over.) Exception: In case of emergency
temporary sll!Spension or modification may be permitted by the department
of agriculture and labor.
Ibid., no. 3, 1932 ___________________ After 9 p. m _______ ------------------------------------ --- - Mercantile occupations, i.e., work in establishments operated for the purpase or
trade in the purchase or sale of any goods or merchandise, including the sales
force, wrapping force, auditing or checking force, shippers in the mail-order
department, the receiving, marking, and stcckroom employees, and all
other women. (Women 18 and over.) Exception8: On Saturday nights during April, May, August, September, and October work is permitted until
10 p. m. (8th ltiennial report, minimum wage department, p. 5); in case of
emergency, temporary suspension or modification may be permitted by the
department of agriculture and labor; women who perform office duties solely.
Ibid., no. 4, 1932_________________ __ Before 6 a. m ______ ------ -------------------------------- -- Laundry occupations, i. e., all processes connecLed with the receiving, marking,
washing, cleaning, ironing, and di•tribution of washable or cleanable materials; work in laundry departments in hotels, hospitals, and factories. (Women
18 and over.) Exception: In case of emergency, temparary suspension or
modification may be permitted by the department of agriculture and labor.
Minimum wage department order
no. 1, 1932.

11 p. m. to 7 a. m ___ -- ------ - ------- -------------------- ----

Ticket sellers. (All females .)
Mill, factory, workshop, oil well or pumping station, cannery or bottling or
preserving, mercantile or mechanical establishment, tenement house, garment, dressmaking or millinery establishment or work room, store, office,
office building, laboratory, restaurant, hotel, bearding or apartment house,
bakery, barber shop, bootblack stand, public stable, garage, laundry , place of
amusement, club, as driver or chauffeur, coal, brick, lumber, or buildinl!' material yard, in the construction or repair of buildings, transportation of merchandise. (Females 18 to 21.)

Oregon :

State welfare commission orders,
1937. (Unnumbered.)

Pennsylvania:

Statutes 1920, sec. 13543; Industrial
board rule S-4.
Statutes 1920, secs. 13540, 13544;
Industrial board rule S-4.


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Needlecraft occupations, i. e., designing, cutting, stitching, weaving, inspecting, knitting, hemstitching, altering, sorting of rags or materials, etc., whether
by hand or machine, of materials for clothing, wearing apparel, upholstery,
tents, awnings, bags, and draperies. (Women 18 and over.)
____ _do ____________ ________ ____ __________________________ __ Laundry,
cleaning, and dyeing occupations, i. e., work in all places where 2 or
morP persons are engaged in washing, cleaning, or dyeing clothing, washable
and cleanable materials, directly or indirectly connected with such place of
business; work in the proces5 of receiving, marking, washing, cleaning, dyeing,
ironin~, and distribution of washable and cleanable materials. (Women 18
and over.)
6·30 p. m. to 7·30
a.m.

10 p. m. to 6 a. m __ --- - ---------------------------------- -- Manufacturing establishment (incl u,ding canning, processing, and packing
perishable fruit or vegetables.) (Women 21 and over.) Exceptions: Managers,
superintendents, or persons doing clerical or stenographic work.
Any
establishment (including canning, processing, and packing perishable fruit
llp.m.to6a.m ___ ---------------------------------------or vegetables.) (Females under 21.) Exceptions: Telephone operators over
18; work in private homes and farming.

ANALYSIS OF HOUR LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS-Continued

NIGHT-WORK LAWS FOR WOMEN WORKERS--Continued
State

Prohibition of
night work

Limitation of night work

Occupations or industries specified and employees covered

Pennsylvania- Continued.
Statutes 1920, sec. 1329()_ _________ _ 8 p. m. to 6 a. m __ _ -------------------------------------- -- Messenger for a telephone, telegraph, or messenger company in the distribution,
collection, transmission, or deli very of goods or messages. (Minors under 21.
Employment entirely prohibited for girls under 18.)
Puerto Rico:
Session laws 1930, Act 28_ _________ 10 p. m. to 6 a. m __ _ In the industry of packing, canning, or Any lucrative occupation. · (Women over 16.) Exceptions: Telephone operarefrigeration of fruits or vegetables
tors, telegraphers, artists, nurses, or domestics.
any woman not pregnant may be
employed during the night if she
has not worked during the day but
for not more than 8 hours or 48 hours
during the week.
Rhode Island: a
General laws 1923, ch. 85, sec. 32___ 10 p. m. to 5 a. m ___ --- --------- ---------------------------- Messenger for telegraph, telephone, or messenger company in the distribution,
transmission, or delivery of goods or messages. (Persons under 21.)
South Carolina:
Cod~ 1932, sec. 1478 _____________ __ After 10 p. m ______ ____ ___ ___ __ ____ ___ _____ ____ _____ __ __ _:_ Mercantile establishments. (All females.)
Washington:
Industrial welfare committee order After 12 midnight_ -------------------- ----- ------- ------- - Elevator operators. (Females over 18.)
no. 23, 1921.
Wisconsin:•
Industrial commission order no. 1. 6 p. m. to 6 a. m. 5•• - -- ------ ----------- ----- --- --- ------ --- Manufactories G and laundries. (Females 16 and over.)
1923.
Ibid., nos. 2 and 3, 1923 ___________ __________________ __ Employment on more than 1 night a Mechanical or mercantile establishment, confectionery store, telegraph or
week between 6:30 p. m. anrt 6 a. m.
telephone office or exchange, or express or transportation establishment.
(Females 16 and over.)
must be limited to 8 hours a night, 48
hours a week.
Idem __________________________ . ___ _____ _____ ___ _______ Employment on more than 1 night a Restaurants. (Females 16 and over.)
week between 8 p. m. and 6 a. m.
must be limited to 8 hours a Right, 48
hours a week.
Statutes 1935, sec. 103.05 (3a; 21 13) _ 8 p. m. to 6 a. m __ _ -- ----- --- ------------------------------ Messenger for telegraph or messenger company in first-, second-, and third-class
cities in the distribution, transmission, or delivery of messages or goods.
(Minors under 21.)
Statutes 1935, secs. 103.01- 103.02;
Employment on more than 1 night a Place of employment, i. e., any manufactory, mechanical or mercantile estabweek, between the hours of 8 p. m .
lishment, beauty parlor, laundry, restaurant, confectionery store, telegraph or
industrial commission order no.
6, 1918.
and 6 a. m., must not exceed 8 hours
telephone office or exchange, or any express or transportation establishment.
a night or 48 hours a week.
(Females 18 and over .) Exception: Registered pharmacists and assistant
pharmacists.


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Statutes 1936, sec. 103.02 ___________

1-----------~--------1 Employment
between the hours of 91Hotels.
p. m . and 6 a. m. must not exceed

(Females 18 and over.)

9 hours a night or 54 hours a week.

Not included as 1 of the States having night-work laws for adult women.
Wisconsin has an industrial commission order in which night work for women on street railways is prohibited but no women are employed in such a capacity in the State.
• Under modified order of 1932 the coIIllnission will permit individual employers upon proper showing to employ women until 10 p. m ., but for not more than 8 hours a day nor
b- a period extending more than 12 hours fromm~f~g to end. Other requirements also must be met.
• Under special orders of the industrial co
ion governing hours of work in factories canning peas, beans, cherries, corn, strawberries, tomatoes, or spinach work at night is
permitted during the sea.5on of the actual canning of the product.
1
1

0


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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis


https://fraser.stlouisfed.org
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis