Legal Age to Work in Utah

Minimum Age to Work in Utah

Utah (UT) Quick Reference Table

Age	Summary of Requirements
14-15	Must perform all job tasks between the hours of 5:00am and 9:30pm. Can work in non-hazardous occupations, such as retail stores, restaurants, fast food, service stations, lawn care, janitorial, and other safe occupations.
16-17	Unable to work any jobs on the Labor Commission’s list of hazardous occupations.
18-20	Must be 18 to work in establishments that sell or serve alcohol for consumption
21	Able to serve alcohol for consumption. No restrictions.

Utah Child Labor Laws

In the State of Utah, minors may work in the restaurant industry, execute office work, perform certain jobs in the retail trade, and undertake other types of non-hazardous jobs beginning at age 14. Employment such as newspaper delivery, babysitting, and basic lawn care stand available for younger minors as well in special situations. While minors may work in various industries in accordance with both state and federal labor laws, restrictions on hours must remain observed. Employers must also remember minors under the age of 18 remain prohibited from performing any task deemed hazardous by child labor laws.

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Hour Restrictions

Federal law states jobs for 14 and 15 year olds may feature schedules with more than three hours on a day in which school remains in session. Minors may not work past 7:00pm from Labor Day until June 1. From June 1 to Labor Day, the limit extends to 9:00pm. No minor aged 14 or 15 may work more than 18 hours a week while school remains in session and no more than 40 hours a week when not in session. Minors under 16 years of age may not work more than four days a week and remain prohibited from working between the hours of 9:30pm and 5:30am.

Minors over the age of 16 face no hour restrictions in the State of Utah. Employers must remain cognizant of break times and meal periods. Any minor under the age of 18 must receive a meal break of at least 30 minutes no later than five hours from the time shifts begin. A rest break of at least 10 minutes for every three hours worked must also take place.

Special Hour Restrictions
Conversely, Utah state law dictates minors under the age of 16 may work up to four hours on a school day and until 9:30pm year round. In addition, minors may work after 9:30pm if the next day does not constitute a school day. Nevertheless, employers should follow the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) if any questions arise over allowed hours of work.

Required Paperwork

Work Permits
In the State of Utah, minors under the age of 18 do not need to obtain work permits or statements of age in order to work. Though not required, a minor or place of employment may still wish to pursue a work permit. In order to do so, the minor retains responsibility for procuring such documentation. Minors may acquire work permits from attended schools, or follow the steps below to learn how to get a work permit in the summer.

• Do you need a work permit during summer?

The need for a work permit depends on the type of work the minor is pursuing. If their employer requires a permit, the teen will need to obtain the proper certification.

• Where can I get a work permit besides school?

The state provides minors with permit applications on the Utah Labor Commission website

• How do I get a work permit during summer?

  • Minors should review the jobs that their state allows their age group to perform, and apply for a position that appeals to them.
  • If they receive a call back or an offer, the youth needs to show their new employer their proof of age documents in order to prove that they can legally work in their chosen field.
  • The hiring manager must have a copy of the underage employee’s documents on file before the teen can perform any tasks for the company.

Occupations Prohibited for Minors under 18
All minors under the age of 18 remain prohibited from a series of occupations laid out by the United States Department of Labor and the FLSA. The government agencies deem such opportunities as too dangerous for minors and, typically, no exceptions exist. In most cases, in order for a youth to perform in the following industries, a special work study or apprentice program must transpire, which would require additional paperwork and varies in each industry. The following represents the lines of work typically inaccessible by any minor under the age of 18:

• Manufacturing or Storing Explosives or Explosive Components
• Motor Vehicle Drivers and Helpers
• Coal Mining
• Sawmills or other Logging Operations
• Any Exposure to Radioactive Substances or Ionizing Radiation
• Operation of Power-driven Hoisting Apparatus
• Metalworking Apparatus
• Meat Processing
• Power-driven Bakery Machines
• Manufacturing of Brick, Tile, and Clay Products
• Operation of Band Saws, Circular Saws, or Guillotine Shears
• Roofing Operations
• Excavating Operations
• Wrecking, Demolishing, and Shipbuilding

source: Utah youth labor laws
source: Restricted occupations for Utah minors