With businesses still struggling to find help and the summer creeping up, it is important to note some big changes to the laws here in New Jersey as they pertain to minors.
Minors 16- and 17-years-old can work up to 50 hours a week — up to 10 hours each day — when they aren’t in school. Also, 14- and 15-year-olds can now work a total of 40 hours a week during the summer months.
There are also now changes to the way teens will obtain work permits. Currently, teens have to obtain work permits through their school districts, with a signature from a school official who says the job won’t interfere with classes, and another from a parent or guardian.
Effective June 1, 2023, minors will no longer need parental consent or anything from the school district to secure a work permit. Instead, the state Labor Department will create a centralized database for teens to register for work permits, which is accessible to employers when interviewing potential employees.
While parental consent isn’t required, the teen’s parent or guardian will receive a notice within three days of the application being filed and can object to the permit within two weeks.
Marzano Human Resources Consulting helps businesses navigate through the myriad of federal, state and local wage and hour and other employment-related regulations.