With Michigan’s retail, grocery, hospitality, and seasonal tourism industries constantly seeking front-line talent, hiring teenage workers is a vital economic practice. From summer boardwalk concessions in Mackinaw City to suburban grocery chains and fast-casual restaurants across Oakland and Macomb counties, hundreds of thousands of Michigan youth gain their first commercial work experience every year.

However, employing minors is strictly regulated by the Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA — Public Act 90 of 1978), codified at MCL 409.101 et seq. Enforced aggressively by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Wage and Hour Division, YESA establishes statutory barriers designed to ensure that employment never interferes with a child’s public education, health, or physical safety.

Violating youth labor laws can lead to severe misdemeanor criminal charges, civil administrative fines, and immediate revocation of operating licenses. This operational manual outlines work permit requirements, school-session hour caps, mandatory break rules, and hazardous work prohibitions.

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1. Securing Michigan Work Permits: Forms CA-6 and CA-7

In Michigan, an employer cannot legally allow a minor to begin work until an official, completed work permit is physically on file at the place of employment:

[Minor & Employer Complete Section I & II] 
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[Parent/Legal Guardian Signs Consent] 
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[Local School District Issuing Officer Reviews Academic Standing & Signs] 
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[Permit Filed at Employer Workplace Before Day 1 of Work]

The Two Work Permit Tiers:

1. Form CA-6 (Pink Form): For minors aged 14 and 15. Requires certification of intended hours, exact job duties, and approval from the school district where the minor attends.
2. Form CA-7 (Yellow Form): For minors aged 16 and 17. Covers expanded operational hours and broader commercial environments.

The Role of the School Issuing Officer

Under MCL 409.106, the superintendent or designated issuing officer of the local school district has the statutory power to revoke or deny a work permit if the student’s school attendance drops, grades fall below district standards, or the proposed employment hours conflict with academic progress.

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2. Permitted Hours & Curfew Limitations

Michigan law strictly delineates how many hours a minor can work, distinguishing between weeks when school is in session and non-school weeks (summer vacation and winter break):

Age Classification	School Session Maximums	Non-School / Summer Maximums	Night Curfew Standards
Ages 14 & 15	• Max 3 hrs / school day • Max 8 hrs / non-school day • Max 18 hrs / school week	• Max 8 hrs / day • Max 40 hrs / week • Max 6 days / week	• 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (School year) • Extended to 9:00 p.m. (June 1 to Labor Day)
Ages 16 & 17	• Max 8 hrs / day • Max 24 hrs / school week • Combined work + school $\le$ 48 hrs	• Max 10 hrs / day • Max 48 hrs / week • Max 6 days / week average	• 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Sun–Thu school nights) • 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Fri, Sat & school breaks)

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3. Mandatory Meal & Rest Periods (MCL 409.112)

While adult employees in Michigan have no statutory right to meal or rest breaks under state law (breaks for adults are determined solely by employer policy), breaks for minor workers are strictly mandatory:

• The 5-Hour Rule: A minor shall not be employed for more than 5 continuous hours without an interval of at least 30 continuous minutes for a meal and rest period.
• Uninterrupted Requirement: If a 16-year-old’s lunch break is interrupted after 20 minutes to restock a shelf, the employer has committed a statutory violation. The break must be documented in timekeeping software or on paper punch logs.

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4. Prohibited Hazardous Occupations

To protect children from physical trauma, Section 409.103 of YESA and federal Child Labor Regulations declare specific occupations and machinery strictly off-limits to workers under 18:

1. Power-Driven Equipment: Minors cannot operate, feed, set up, or clean power-driven woodworking machines, circular saws, guillotine shears, metal-forming presses, or paper-box compactors.
2. Material Handling Equipment: Minors are prohibited from operating or riding on commercial forklifts, high-lift trucks, or motorized freight elevators.
3. Roofing & Excavation: All work on or about a roof, trench excavation, or demolition site is forbidden.
4. Alcohol Sales: Minors under 18 cannot sell, dispense, or handle open containers of alcoholic beverages in any licensed establishment. Minors aged 16–17 may work as bussers or kitchen prep in restaurants serving alcohol only if 50% or more of the establishment’s gross sales derive from food.

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5. Youth Wages & Employer Liability

Michigan law permits two wage concessions for youth: * 85% Youth Wage: Under MCL 408.934b, employers may pay minors aged 16 and 17 an hourly rate equal to 85% of standard minimum wage (approximately $11.30/hr in 2026). * Training Wage: Employers may pay a sub-minimum training wage of $4.25 per hour to new hires under age 20 during their first 90 calendar days of employment.

Legal Penalties for YESA Violations

Employers who violate youth labor laws face criminal misdemeanor charges, fines up to $500 per day, and exposure to personal injury lawsuits without the protection of workers’ compensation exclusivity if an illegally employed minor is injured on hazardous machinery.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do teens get a work permit in Michigan?

Under the Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA), minors under 18 must obtain a work permit from their local school district issuing officer before starting work. Minors aged 14–15 use Form CA-6 (pink form), while minors aged 16–17 use Form CA-7 (yellow form). The permit requires signatures from the minor, the employer, the parent/guardian, and the school issuing officer.

How many hours can a 16- or 17-year-old work in Michigan during the school year?

During school weeks, 16- and 17-year-olds may work no more than 24 hours per week, with a combined total of school and work hours not exceeding 48 hours in any one week. They cannot work more than 8 hours per day, and cannot work past 10:30 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights preceding a school day.

How many hours can a 14- or 15-year-old work in Michigan?

Minors aged 14 and 15 cannot work during school hours. During a school week, they are limited to a maximum of 3 hours per school day, 8 hours on non-school days, and no more than 18 hours total per week. Work must occur between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (extended to 9:00 p.m. from June 1 to Labor Day).

Are meal breaks legally mandatory for minor workers in Michigan?

Yes. Under Section 409.112 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, an employer must provide a minor with at least a 30-minute documented, uninterrupted meal and rest period for every 5 continuous hours of work. Unlike adult employees who have no statutory meal break requirement under state law, breaks for minors are strictly mandatory.

Can a 16-year-old serve alcohol in a Michigan restaurant?

No. Under the Michigan Liquor Control Code and YESA, an individual must be at least 18 years of age to sell or serve alcoholic beverages in a licensed restaurant, tavern, or grocery retail establishment.