Ready for Summer Staffing? Don't Overlook Youth Employment Compliance

The Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA) is a Michigan law that regulates the employment of minors. It establishes rules issuing required work permits, what types of jobs minors can have, the number of hours they are allowed to work, and the times in which they are allowed to work.

The minimum age for minor employment in Michigan is 14, however, there are a few job exceptions allowing children under 14 to work, including:

• Farming & agricultural work

• Golf caddy

• Sports referee

• Domestic work in private home

• Working for parents in non-hazardous situations

Michigan has specific regulations regarding the hours in which minors are allowed to work.

Age 14 & 15

When school is in session (Labor Day to May 31) they may not work:

• More than 3 hours on a school day.

• More than 18 hours during any given school week.

When school is not in session (June 1 to Labor Day) minors may not work:

• More than 8 hours a day.

• More than 40 hours per week.

Age 16 & 17

• No more than 10 hours in a day or 24 hours in a school week.

• Non-school weeks, may not exceed 48 working hours.

• School nights, may not work before 6:00 am or after 10:30 pm.

• Allowed to work up until 11:30 pm on a non-school night.

These restrictions help ensure that minors prioritize education and rest as well as their overall well being.

As of now, schools handle the responsibility of issuing work permits for minors, but starting October 2, 2026, the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) will assume this role. There will be a statewide registration system for minors to register for employment themselves or with a parent/guardian. This new system will help simplify administrative procedures for employers, improve oversight, and ensure legal compliance.

Work permits are required for minors who attend school virtually, who are homeschooled, and even for those that do not attend school. A new work permit is required when the minor changes jobs. When employment ends for the minor, the employer will be required to notify the state. If a minor employee has poor academic performance, then their work permit may be revoked.

The Youth Employment Standards Act prohibits minors from working in particular hazardous jobs, such as:

• Operating specific machinery such as woodworking machines, or machines on construction or excavation sites;

• Working with power driven equipment, tools, or saws;

• Using meat slicers, cleavers, slaughtering or butchering meat; and

• Working with explosives, chemicals, or radioactive substances.

Finally, in order for employers to be able to hire minors, they must register with the LEO. They will have to submit detailed employment information as well as confirm compliance with the laws. The LEO will keep a database of authorized employers. Employers who are non-compliant may lose the ability to hire minors and can be removed from the database. It would be wise for employers to implement a record keeping system to monitor the minors' permit status, wage compliance, and sick leave accruals to ensure the business isn't subject to any possible violations.

For more information and to make sure your business is complaint, our business law attorneys are here to answer any questions you may have.

Written by Beier Howlett