Employment of Minors

Scope

This policy applies to all Staff and Temporary employees who are minors under the age of 18 and over the age of 14 who are:

• Enrolled in a public school,
• Enrolled in a private school,
• Home-school students,
• Out-of-state residents seeking employment in Indiana,
• No longer enrolled in school, OR
• Married

This policy does not apply to minors under the age of 18 who have graduated from high school or a high school equivalency program, or who have been legally emancipated.  For those individuals refer to other Staff and Temporary policies.

Back to top

Policy Statement

Prohibited Positions

1. Minors under the age of 18 are not permitted to work in a position that is considered a hazardous occupation by the Indiana Bureau of Child Labor.
2. Minors age 14 & 15 are not permitted to work in a position that is considered a prohibited occupation by the Indiana Bureau of Child Labor.
3. In order to employ a minor age 14 or 15 the unit must obtain approval by the appropriate vice president, chancellor, or provost.
4. Minors under the age of 18 are not permitted to work in a position that requires driving a university vehicle or driving on university business per the Office of Insurance, Loss Control & Claims policy.

Employment Certification/Work Permits

1. Most minors under the age of 18 must obtain a work permit from an accredited Indiana school before beginning work or training.
   1. Work permits are not required for minors working as farm laborers, domestic workers (babysitters), golf caddies, newspaper carriers, performers (e.g.  actors and models), and certified sports referees (e.g. umpires and officials).
   2. Work permits are not required for minors who are non-Indiana residents, Indiana residents who are homeschooled, and Indiana residents enrolled in a Career and Technical Education program as approved by the Indiana State Board of Education – Indiana Virtual High School courses, Indiana Connections Career Academy (INCC).

Work Hours

1. These work hour rules apply to hours worked across all university jobs and units, and any other jobs outside of the university that the minor may have.
2. As a general rule, 14 or 15 year old minors may not work between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM when school is in session unless the school that the minor attends issues written permission.
3. Age Specific work parameters:
   1. 14 or 15 year olds:
      1. May work:
         • 3 hours on a school day OR
         • 8 hours on a non-school day.
         • 18 hours per school week OR
         • 40 hours per non-school week.
      2. May Not work:
         • Before 7:00 AM
         • After 7:00 PM
         • During normal school hours
      3. Exception:
         •  From June 1 to Labor Day may work until 9:00 PM, except on a night followed by a school day.
   2. 16 or 17 year olds:
      1. May work:
         • 9 hours per day.
         • 40 hours per week OR
         • 48 hours per non-school week
         • No restricted end time on nights not followed by a school day.
      2. May Not work:
         • Before 6:00AM.
         • After 10:00 PM on nights followed by a school day.
         • More than 6 days per work week.
      3. Exception:
         • With written parental permission minors may work until 11:00 pm on nights followed by a school day. Documentation of the parental permission must be kept on file.

Supervison

1. Minors who are 16 and 17 years old  must be assigned to work with someone 18 years of age or older if working past 10:00 PM or before 6:00 AM in a location open to the public.
2. Direct supervisors and anyone working 1:1 with a minor under the age of 18 must have been subject to a background check within the last five years. See the PIC policy for more information.

Back to top

Reason for Policy

State and federal child labor laws establish specific employment requirements and regulations restricting the nature of the work performed and limitations on the hours worked by minors

Back to top

Procedures

1. Determine if the minor needs to obtain an employment certification/work permit.
   1. Verify that the applicant is between the ages of 14 and 17 years old.
   2. Ascertain whether the applicant is a non-Indiana resident, or an Indiana resident who is homeschooled or enrolled in a Career and Technical Education program, has graduated from high school or a high school equivalency program, or withdrawn from high school.
      1. If the applicant is in one of these categories a work permit is not required.
      2. Request and retain documentation that the minor does not require a work permit.
2. Once an offer of employment is accepted, fill out the Intent to Employ / A1 State Form 896.
   1. The minor must then return the Intent to Employ form along with proof of age to the accredited high school in the school district where the minor resides.
   2. Once the documents have been examined and found to be in good order by the Issuing Officer at the accredited high school, the minor should be issued a work permit by the high school.
3. The minor must present the work permit to the supervisor prior to working.
4. If a 16 or 17 year old minor will be asked to work until 11:00 pm on nights followed by a school day:
   1. A signed copy of written parental permission must be on file.
   2. The minor should not work any hours that require parental permission until the unit receives the form signed by a parent or guardian.
5. The work permit and the parental permission form (if applicable) need to be kept on file by the university.
   1. If the minor is being employed on a temporary basis, retain the documents in the employing unit of the university.
   2. If the minor is being employed on an appointment basis, send the documents to the campus human resources office.
6. Ensure that the applicant completes Form I-9 using the online procedures established by the university. This must be done in accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to verify that the person is eligible to work in the United States. Federal law requires that the employee must be stopped from working if either Section 1 or 2 are not completed within the time limits specified for each section.
   1. The employee must complete online Section 1 of the Form I-9 on or before the first day of employment and present evidence of identity and employment eligibility within three business days of the date employment begins.
   2. The hiring department must examine the evidence of identity and employment eligibility; record the title online, number and expiration date (if any) of the documents; enter the date employment began in the Certification statement of Section 2; and electronically submit the Form I-9 within three business days of the date employment begins.
   3. Copies of documents that the online system specifically identifies are to be scanned into the online system for record keeping. All paper copies used in the verification or scanning process should be shredded.
   4. The online Form I-9 will automatically be submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system. Follow the instructions in the university's I-9 E-Verify Procedures.
7. Contact Financial Management Services (FMS) for information about other required hiring forms.
8. Criminal history background checks are not required for employees who are 17 or younger.  The unit should contact a non-relative reference as part of the employment verification process.

Back to top

Sanctions

Managers, supervisors, and employees who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Back to top

History

July 2020 
Updated based on the new background check system.

April 2020
Updated based on the Indiana youth employment law changes effective April 1, 2020.

January 2017
Replaces the Employment of Relatives, Students, and Minors policy.

Back to top