By Adam Fisher

With the school year drawing to a close for thousands of Maine high school students, many are starting to think about summer job opportunities. Maine Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman today reminded teens, parents and employers about labor laws protecting young workers and the process for obtaining a work permit.

“First jobs can be a great opportunity for young workers to learn important lessons in responsibility, people skills, and money management,” said Fortman. “But long hours or dangerous working conditions can be especially harmful for teens – that’s why we have child labor standards in Maine labor laws.”

All minors under the age of 16 must have a work permit before they start a job, whether or not they attend school.  Applications for work permits are made at the office of the superintendent of the school district where they live, and only after the teen has received a job offer.  The school district sends the completed application to the Maine Department of Labor for approval. The Department reviews the work permit applications to ensure that teens will be doing work that is appropriate and legal for their ages.

Parents and employers can help expedite the approval process by making sure each request includes proof of age and parental approval. The application must contain the specific job title (e.g. “dishwasher” and “desk clerk” are acceptable, but “laborer” is too general). The name of the business on the permit must be the actual business name, which may be different than what people commonly call it. 

Teens under 16 must get a new work permit for each new job. Teens can have two work permits (for two different jobs) in the summer, but only one permit during the school year.

Child labor laws limit the number of hours teens may work. Hours are restricted for all workers under 18, but only teens under 16 years old need work permits. (See below for legal work hours for teens.)

Child labor laws also prohibit minors from working at many of the more dangerous jobs. Some of the jobs Maine teens under 18 years old cannot do include operating most mechanical equipment, driving for work, and working alone in a cash-based business.

A copy of the Guide to Maine Laws Governing the Employment of Minors is posted on the Maine Department of Labor website at: www.maine.gov/labor/labor_laws/publications/minorsguide.html and is available by request by calling 207-623-7900.

Legal Work Hours for Teens in Maine

14 and 15 Year Olds

Must have a work permit. May not work more than 6 days in a row.  When school is in session, they may not work during school hours or before 7 am or after 7 pm. Hours are limited to 3 hours a day on school days, including Fridays, and 18 hours a week. When school is not in session, they may not work before 7 am or after 9 pm. Hours are limited to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.

16 & 17 Year Olds who are enrolled in school, including home school

May not work more than 6 days in a row. When school is in session, they may not work before 7 a.m. on a school day or 5 a.m. on a non-school day.  May not work after 10 p.m. the night before a school day or after midnight on a day that does not precede a school day.  Hours are limited to 20 hours a week or 28 hours in a week with an unscheduled school closure.  On any given school day, work is limited to 4 hours a day or 8 hours on last day of school week or an unscheduled school closure day. 

When school is not in session, hours are limited to under 10 hours a day and no more than 50 hours a week.

Facts About Young Workers

Young workers are an important component of the Maine workforce:

Just over half of teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are employed at any single time 80% of teens are employed at some point before they leave high school Maine Department of Labor issues approximately 4,000 work permits each year to young workers under the age of 16.

Working long hours can be counterproductive to academic success of students:

Studies have shown that teens who work more than 20 hours a week do not do as well in school as those who work fewer hours. Teachers report that teens who work late at night are less alert in class and less prepared

Young people who work long hours may not have time for after-school activities. Child labor laws limit the total number of hours teens can work and the times they are allowed to work

Young workers are more susceptible to work related injuries (national statistics):

200,000 teens aged 14 to 17 are injured on the job every year. Approximately 100,000 teens aged 15 to 17 visit emergency departments as a result of those injuries. More than 70 teen workers are killed by work related injuries. Teens are injured at a higher rate than are adult workers, even though youths are prohibited from holding the most dangerous types of jobs, such as mining, manufacturing, and construction.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, young workers are most likely to sustain injuries as the result of:

Unsafe equipment

Stressful conditions

Inadequate safety training

Inadequate supervision

Dangerous work that is illegal or inappropriate for youth

Trying to hurry; and

Alcohol and drug use