Are you a teenager starting to think about getting a job? Perhaps you want to start buying your own clothes or music. Maybe you're tired of asking mom or dad for money, or maybe they're tired of having you ask them. Before you run out and start applying for jobs at the local mall, here's what you need to know:
Your Age Makes a Difference
- If You Are 11 Years of Age (or older): You may deliver newspapers, but only between the hours of 5 AM and 7 PM (or 30 minutes prior to sunset, whichever is later).
- If You Are 12 or 13 Years of Age: You may be employed picking berries, fruits, or vegetables by hand, or in any farm work on the home farm. You may work up to five hours each day, only when you aren't required to be in school.
- If You Are 14 or 15 Years of Age: You may work after school hours and during vacations, but not in factory work. You may, however, do delivery or clerical work in the enclosed office of a factory. When you aren't required to be in school, you may work up to 18 hours per week. During the school year, this consists of up to three hours per weekday, and eight hours per day on weekends and holidays. You may work between 7 AM and 7 PM from the day after Labor Day through June 20th, and 7 AM and 9 PM from June 21st through Labor Day.
- If You Are 16 or 17 Years of Age: You may work full time if not enrolled in school. You may do factory work. If you are enrolled in school, you can work a maximum of 28 hours per week when school is in session or 48 hours, 6 days a week during school vacations. When school is in session, this consists of four hours per day, Monday through Thursday, and eight hours per day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
- If You Are Under 18, you are required to have a work permit (working papers), before you can begin work. If you want to work on a farm, as a newspaper carrier, in the street trades, or as a child model, you need a special permit for each.
- Child performers or models may work at any age.
If You Need Working Papers...
- You can get an application for working papers from your school. If you don't attend school, the school nearest your home can give you the address of the certifying office.
- Your parent or guardian must sign the application. You must provide your birth or baptismal certificate as proof of age. In addition, you must provide a doctor's certificate that shows you are physically fit to work.
- If you want a full time employment certificate and you have not yet graduated from school, your parent or guardian must appear before school officials. If you have already graduated, your parent's or guardian's written consent will be accepted. Remember you may not work full time during school hours until you are 16 years of age.
Working Papers Aren't Required for These Jobs
- Work on the home farm
- Caddying
- Baby-sitting
- Casual employment consisting of household chores and yard work in and about a residence or the premises of a non-profit organization
- Work that doesn't involve the use of power-driven machinery
