Teens Working in Washington

So you're not yet 18 and you want to go to work.

Many Washington employers hire workers under the age of 18 to work in restaurants,
grocery stores and offices, among other non-agricultural jobs. There is a brochure at www.teenworkers.lni.wa.gov that answers many questions employers, teen workers and parents have about non-agricultural work rules, permits and conditions for working minors. These requirements also apply to teens working in their family’s non-agricultural business.

What does an employer have to do to employ minors?
Post a current minor work permit endorsement
Employers are responsible for getting a minor work permit endorsement for each work
site where they employ minors. They can get one with the Master Business License
application. This application can be obtained through the Department of Licensing
or any L&I office. The Master Business License with current minor work permit
endorsement must be posted, and renewed every year.

Keep specific information on file for each minor worker
An employer must have the following information about each minor worker on file at
the minor’s work site:

Proof of age
A copy of one of the following is required:
• Birth certificate
• Driver’s license
• Baptismal record
• Notarized statement from parent or legal guardian

Personal data
Name, address, date of birth and a copy of the minor’s Social Security card.

Employment description
Earliest and latest work hours, total number of hours of work per week and a
complete description of duties.

A parent/school authorization form from each minor worker
L&I gives this form to the employer. It is also available on L&I’s web site at
www.LNI.wa.gov/forms/pdf/700002af.pdf

The parent/school authorization form must be completed by the employer, signed by
the parent/guardian, and by a school representative if the student is working during
the school year. It must be kept on file at the minor’s work site. The employer needs to
renew the parent/school authorization form when it expires every year in September.