With summer upon us, many teenagers are looking for employment. Teenagers must be at least 14 years old for most jobs and are protected by the Youth Employment Standards Act until they turn 18 years old.

Please note the following employment guidelines for minors:

• A work permit is required if they are under 18 and have not graduated from high school before starting employment. The permit should be acquired from the student’s school office or their school district’s administrative office before starting employment. The student and employer complete separate sections on the form. Then the school completes their section to approve the permit. The completed form must be kept on file, with the student’s application packet.

• Be sure to keep accurate and complete time records for minor employees, including starting and ending times. If you are ever audited by the Department of Labor, you could be slapped with a fine for improper record keeping.

• Teenagers cannot be employed in hazardous occupations, including vehicle drivers and meat cutters. For a complete list of hazardous occupations, vist our "Download" page, "Prohibited / Restricted Work for Teenagers".

• For a copy of the Michigan Wage & Hour Division brochure, vist our "Download" page, "Employment Rules for Minors".

If you need any further information regarding employing a minor or have any questions, please contact either the Payroll or Human Resources Departments.