The 411 on hiring minors in Louisiana

As summertime approaches, teenagers across Louisiana will be seeking positions in Louisiana restaurants and other businesses. It is estimated that more than 60,000 minors are employed in the state of Louisiana, representing just three percent of the total workforce of 1,885,310 according the 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for Louisiana.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has a two-part process for employing a minor as outlined below under Employment Certificates.

Employment Certificates (work permits)

• All minors under the age of 18 MUST obtain an Employment Certificate before beginning employment.
• An “Application for Employment” form MUST be completed by the prospective employer, signed by a parent or guardian and presented to an Authorized issuing officer of the parish.
• Once the minor has been issued the employment certificate (work permit), they are to provide the employer with the original document to keep on file. 

Hours of Employment

Minors 14 & 15 years of age MAY NOT

• Work more than 3 hours on any day during which school is in session
• Work more than 18 hours during any week school is in session
• Work more than 6 consecutive days in one week (Employer work week)
• Work more than 40 hours in any week
• Work more than 8 hours in any day.
• Minors 14 & 15 years of age, who HAVE NOT: graduated from high school MAY NOT:
• Work between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.; except from June first through Labor Day at which time the permissible hours are extended to 9 p.m.

Minors 16 years of age, who have not graduated from high school MAY NOT:

·         Work between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. prior to the start of any school day.

Minors 17 years of age, who have not graduated from high school MAY NOT:

·         Work between the hours of Midnight and 5 a.m. prior to the start of any school day

Break Requirements:

ALL MINORS MUST have a 30 minute uninterrupted break period within every 5 hours of employment. ALL MINORS SHALL RECEIVE AN EIGHT REST BREAK AT THE END OF EACH WORK DAY, BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEXT DAY OF WORK.

Occupations permitted for 14 & 15 year-old minors

• Office and clerical work
• Cashiering and sales
• Price marking, assembling and packing 
• Bagging and carrying out in grocery stores 
• Errand and delivery work by foot or public Transportation 
• Clean-up work and ground maintenance (No power mowers) 
• Kitchen work and dishwasher 
• Car washing dispensing gasoline, and courtesy service 
• Cleaning vegetables and fruit, wrapping and stocking 
• Commercial Sales 
• Golf Caddy

Note: When a routine minor labor law inspection is conducted and violations are detected a re-inspection will be allowed as long as there is no evidence of hazardous / prohibited employment or editing of minors time records are identified. If there are no additional violations identified during the re-inspection, the first inspection would serve as a warning, and the employer will not incur penalties.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission state-mandated Louisiana Minor Labor Law Placard posting can be downloaded and printed here.