Finding legal employment as a 15-year-old in Michigan provides an opportunity to earn income and develop early career skills. Navigating this process requires understanding the specific regulations designed to protect young workers. Michigan law, working with federal standards, governs where a minor can work, how long they can work, and the steps required before employment begins.
General Legal Requirements for Employing Minors in Michigan
Employment for minors in Michigan falls under the dual jurisdiction of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the state’s Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA). If both laws apply, the rule providing the greatest protection for the minor must be followed. YESA defines a minor as any individual under 18 years old and regulates working conditions to ensure employment does not interfere with education.
Before legally starting work, a 15-year-old must secure a work permit, specifically the CA-6 form, designated for minors under 16. This permit must be obtained for every job, and the employer must keep a current copy on file before the minor’s first day. The permitting process involves the student, a parent or guardian, the employer, and a school official. This requirement applies regardless of whether the minor attends public school, is homeschooled, or is enrolled in a virtual program.
Common Industries That Hire 15-Year-Olds
Jobs available to 15-year-olds are limited to non-hazardous roles, focusing primarily on retail, service, and office environments. These roles involve customer service, light manual tasks, and clerical support, structured to provide experience without exposure to dangerous equipment.
Retail and Grocery Stores
Retail environments frequently hire 15-year-olds for tasks that do not involve operating heavy machinery. Common roles include stocking shelves, bagging groceries, cleaning floors, and retrieving shopping carts. Minors often work as cashiers, but they are restricted from selling or serving age-restricted products, such as alcohol or tobacco. These entry-level tasks focus on maintaining the store’s appearance and assisting customers.
Restaurants and Food Service
Restaurants and fast-food establishments offer numerous opportunities for minors. Acceptable roles often include busser, host, counter attendant, and dishwasher. Minors are prohibited from operating power-driven equipment like meat slicers, dough mixers, or deep fryers. Furthermore, if an establishment earns 50% or more of its total sales from alcohol, 15-year-olds cannot be employed there. They also cannot work in any area where alcohol is sold or consumed, even in permitted establishments.
Entertainment and Recreational Services
Recreational settings are a common source of employment, particularly during the summer months. These jobs often focus on public interaction in supervised settings. Examples include working as an usher at a movie theater, an attendant at a golf course, or a junior camp counselor. Lifeguarding is also permitted for this age group, provided the minor obtains the necessary state and local certification.
Administrative and Office Work
Office environments provide non-hazardous opportunities for minors to gain clerical and administrative experience. These jobs typically involve filing and organizing documents, shredding papers, running errands, and performing general clean-up tasks. Minors are permitted to use standard office equipment, such as computers and photocopiers. However, they are prohibited from operating any power-driven machinery.
Agricultural and Farm Work
The YESA rules for agricultural work differ slightly from general industrial employment, though safety remains the priority. Minors aged 14 and 15 may be employed in farming occupations such as sorting, packing, or preparing agricultural products for delivery. They are prohibited from working in hazardous agricultural environments, including operating large farm machinery or engaging in timbering operations. Non-hazardous tasks on commercial farms are generally permissible, though exceptions primarily apply to family farms.
Strict Rules Regarding Work Hours
Michigan and federal laws impose limitations on the hours 15-year-olds can work, prioritizing their educational commitments.
During weeks when school is in session, a minor is limited to working a maximum of three hours on any school day. The total hours worked during a school week cannot exceed 18 hours.
When school is not in session, such as during summer vacation, the minor can work up to eight hours per day. The weekly limit increases to a maximum of 40 hours during non-school weeks. The total combined hours of school attendance and work cannot exceed 48 hours in any given week.
Work hours are also restricted by time of day, differentiating between the school year and summer months. From the day after Labor Day through May 31, a 15-year-old cannot work before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. This evening limitation is extended during the summer period (June 1 through Labor Day), allowing the minor to work until 9:00 p.m.
Occupations That Are Strictly Prohibited
Federal and state laws prohibit 15-year-olds from working in hazardous occupations, regardless of the industry. These restrictions include all jobs involving the operation of power-driven machinery, such as meat slicers, woodworking equipment, and bakery machines.
Minors are banned from working in specific fields like manufacturing, mining, and construction, including roofing and excavation sites. Any job requiring work with radioactive substances, explosives, or hazardous chemicals is off-limits. Furthermore, 15-year-olds cannot be employed as drivers of motor vehicles, which extends to tasks like pizza delivery or operating a forklift.
How to Obtain a Work Permit
Obtaining the CA-6 work permit requires coordination between the minor, their parent, the prospective employer, and the school district.
The minor first obtains the CA-6 form, typically from the school office or district website, and completes Section I with a parent or guardian. This initial section includes personal details and the minor’s signature.
The minor then takes the form to the prospective employer, who must complete Section II, the Offer of Employment. This section details the specific job duties, hourly wage, hours per day and week, and the earliest start and latest end times.
The completed form is submitted to an authorized Issuing Officer at the minor’s school district, usually the chief administrator or a designated staff member. The Issuing Officer verifies the minor’s age and ensures the proposed work complies with state and federal labor laws.
Once approved, the Issuing Officer signs the permit in Section III and returns the original document to the minor. The minor must then give the original, completed CA-6 form to the employer, who is required to keep it on file for the duration of employment.