For many teens getting a summer job is a great opportunity to expand their horizons and acquire valuable experience while earning good money during school break. Normally, during summer there are a lot of great jobs available but it is absolutely required that teens under 18 are aware of the federal guidelines and government laws applicable in their state. Although the fundamental goal of federal laws is to protect teens from illegal employment and teach them their rights, they vary from state to state. Therefore, before applying for any job it is required to consult a local guidance counselor for getting informed about the US federal laws applicable in the particular state.
Generally, teens between 14 and 17 years old need to get a work permit to be authorized for legal employment. The most important reason for this is that some employers take advantage of young teenagers putting them to work many hours and paying them peanuts. To prevent teens from being overworked and poorly-paid, the US government has created guidelines that specify the maximum number of hours a teen can work and the kind of work that can be done based on age.
In particular, the guidelines of the Fair Labor Act Standard (FLSA) are quite strict as to what types of jobs teens are allowed to work and for how many hours per day. But even if the FLSA does not require a teen work permit for a particular state such as Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Tennessee, Arizona, Oregon, Kentucky and South Dakota, , the state labor office will certainly do. These types of teen work permits, also known as employment certificates, are generally required in most of the states for teens under 16.
Moreover, by issuing teen work permits the government aims at protecting teens from working in unsafe and unhealthy environments. In many cases, employers may hire teenagers to operate dangerous machinery or work in dangerous jobs such as construction or mining. To avoid such events, the government does not issue a teen work permit for such types of jobs.
The process for obtaining a work permit is easy. Teens may get the application for a teen work permit from the school administrative office or from the local district office. Before getting the work permit, teens should have decided on the job of preference in their area and have talked to their prospect employers about summer employment. If everything is settled, teens get the work permit and have their parents signing it. Then, the agency issuing the permit reviews the job description and makes sure that it fits within the state laws. So, teens get the work permit once they have a job offer, not before.
For the teen work permit to be issued, teens have to prove their date of birth with their birth certificate, ID card, driver’s license, or passport. Depending on the state they live, their school record may also be required. Some schools may not let a student get a teen work permit if the school record shows bad grades. Overall, it depends on the school and the regulations that apply.
Generally, teens between 14 and 17 years old are not allowed to work in jobs that put their safety in danger including construction, manufacturing, mining, meat slaughtering, truck loading or unloading, machine operation, and exposure to radiation. Moreover, teens under 17 are not allowed to drive unless they meet certain requirements. In regards to work hours, teens between 14 and 17 years old are allowed to work 40 hours a week during school break, but not before 7 am or after 7 pm between Labor Day and June 1 and not after 9 pm between June 1 and Labor Day.
The whole point of teen work permits is to protect teens, offer them safety and the chance to become responsible while earning some money. Besides, it verifies the teen’s age, school record, and enrollment status and serves as a way to check employers from being prosecuted for hiring minors for such dangerous jobs. In the long run, working in a safe environment during school break and learning how to be lawful and reliable from a young age serves as a basis for establishing good working ethos and building a strong resume after graduation.
