Work Permits
Under California law and other relevant laws, a minor student may not work without a work permit issued by the appropriate authority. To obtain a work permit, certain information is required from the student’s school. Information regarding work permits and how to apply is available from the California Department of Education website: https://www.cde.ca.gov/.
The minor/student, after obtaining a promise of employment, must obtain a “Statement of Intent to Employ Minor and Request for Work Permit.” The minor, the employer and the parent or guardian must each complete their sections and submit the completed application to the school. The school will verify the information entered on the application by the minor and parent or guardian and will also examine the student’s records and consult the teacher to confirm the student’s satisfactory academic achievement to date. The student must then submit the form to the “work permit issuing authority.” If all requirements are met, the work permit issuing authority may issue the “Permit to Employ and Work.” The “work permit issuing authority” is the Superintendent of the local public school or those persons authorized in writing by the Superintendent to issue the permit.
Employment of Minors
Federal and state laws restrict child labor, regulating the number of hours worked as well as the working conditions. Any employer who hires a minor (under 18 years old) must keep a copy of the minor's work permit on file. Employers must require minors to present a work permit before allowing the minor to work. Students can obtain work permits from the local school district (for public school students) or their archdiocesan, parish, or private school. However, a minor who is 16 or 17 years old and has graduated from high school is not required to show a work permit and may be employed for the same hours as adults; evidence of high school graduation must be kept on file.
Ages 16 and 17
A minor can work only a restricted number of hours outside of school. A minor can work for no more than four hours in any day on which the minor is required to attend school. A minor who is at least 16 years old may work up to eight hours on a day that precedes a non-school day. Minors may not work more than eight hours in a day or more than 48 hours in six days in a week. They may not work before 5:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. on an evening preceding a school day. A minor can work until 12:30 a.m. during any evening preceding a non-school day.
Ages 14 and 15
Employers may not hire children under 14 years except in some agricultural jobs. It is permissible to hire 14-year-old and 15-year-old minors. However, there are some special restrictions for this age group. Minors aged 14 and 15 may not work more than three hours on any day in which the minor is required to attend school, more than eight hours on a non-school day, more than 18 hours in a school week, or more than 40 hours in a non-school week. They may work only between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. except during the summer (June 1 to Labor Day) when they are permitted to work until 9:00 p.m.
1 Minimum Wage for Minors
California law requires minors to be paid the state minimum wage unless they qualify as learners, who are defined as "employees during their first 160 hours of employment working in occupations in which they have no previous similar or related experience. A learner may be of any age."
Archdiocesan policy requires that all employees of the Archdiocesan Catholic Center, cemeteries, mortuaries, and parishes be paid at least the state minimum wage or the minimum wage in effect in the location's city or county. Consult with the Human Resources Department before establishing a wage rate for minors. For additional information, see the California Child Labor Laws pamphlet.
See the Statement of Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for Work Permit and the Permit to Employ and Work.
3-12-2021