Legal Age to Work in Vermont

Minimum Age to Work in VT

Vermont (VT) Quick Reference Table

Vermont Child Labor Laws

Vermont youth labor laws extend the legal working age to include individuals as young as 12. In most cases, the state requires individuals falling under the age of 18 to stand at least 14 to assume employment for monetary gain. The provisions allowing twelve year olds to work in The Green Mountain State historically refer to agricultural jobs. Non-agricultural occupations remain readily available to workers fourteen and older; however, the state imposes exclusions on certain lines of work deemed hazardous to the health of young persons.

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Jobs for Teenagers

Proof of Age
Teenage employees working in Vermont must provide proof of age to potential employers prior to official hiring. Once obtained by the hiring party, the document certifying the age of a minor must remain on file at the place of employment throughout the duration of the work opportunity. The statute applies to individuals 18 and under. Accepted proofs of age include birth certificates and state issued permits, like driver’s licenses or identification cards.

Work Permits
In the State of Vermont, teens 16 and older do not need to apply for or obtain permits to assume work. A single exception to the child labor law on work permits requires individuals under the age of sixteen to apply for employment certificates. The certificates clear minors aged 14 and 15 for work during school hours. However, the statute only applies to lines of work outside of vocational apprenticeships or educational studies approved by the school attended by the working minor. Most students access their work permits through their school guidance counselor. However, others must learn how to get a work permit in the summer in order to pursue seasonal work at the end of the school year.

• Do you need a work permit during summer?

Vermont workers under the age of 16 require an employment certificate before they can officially get a job. Younger teens must have a permit before they can join the workforce.

• Where can I get a work permit besides school?

Employment certificate applications are available to job-seeking kids at their local  Department of Labor office.

• How do I get a work permit during summer?

  • Fourteen and fifteen year olds can pick up work permit forms from the Department of Labor.
  • After receiving a job offer, the youths and their parents can fill out the work certificate application before handing it over to the potential employer to sign.
  • When the forms are complete, the teen must submit them to the labor department in-person. They must also show proof of age with their state ID or birth certificate.
  • The issuing officer will verify the information on the documents before giving the minor an employment certificate that allows them to start working.

Hours Restrictions

Vermont youth labor laws limit the amount of hours fourteen and fifteen year olds may work in any occupation. Restrictions mainly apply to hours assumed during school days. Upon reaching the age of 16, youths no longer need to adhere to child labor laws pertaining to scheduling. However the state still prohibits minors between sixteen and eighteen from working in manufacturing or other jobs mechanical in nature more than nine hours per day or 50 hours per week.

How Many Hours Can a 14 or 15 Year Old Work?

• No More Than Three (3) Hours on School Days
• No More Than Eight (8) Hours on Non-School Days
• No More Than 18 Hours During a School Week
• No More Than 40 Hours During Non-School Week
• Minors May Only Work Between the Hours of 7:00am and 7:00pm Labor Day thru June 1
• Hours Extend to 9:00pm June 1 thru Labor Day (Summer)
• No More Than Six (6) Days Per Week

Where Can a Minor Work?

Jobs You Can Work at 12
Minors may begin working at the age of twelve in the State of Vermont. Opportunities available to the young workers only include jobs on farms. The state requires twelve year olds to obtain written permission from a parent or guardian to begin work in agricultural capacities. The work must take place with consent from a parent or guardian or on a farm where a parent or legal guardian also work. Any occupation assumed by a minor must be non-hazardous in nature.

Jobs for 14 and 15 Year Olds
The positions available to fourteen and fifteen year olds largely include entry-level jobs in various, non-hazardous industries. Retail stores, restaurants (including fast food), grocery stores, gas stations, and offices may hire on fourteen and fifteen year olds for monetary compensation in positions deemed safe by the State of Vermont. Cashier, sales associate, grocery clerk, bagger, server, dishwasher, and host/hostess prove ideal for young workers looking for employment at 14 and 15. Additional industries suitable for minors under 16 include greeting and sales positions at amusement parks, ballparks, and movie theaters.

Jobs for 16 and 17 Year Olds
Young workers under the age of 18 may work in most industries and occupations that do not involve hazardous materials or potentially life-threatening responsibilities in addition to agricultural positions of non-hazardous nature. State law permits individuals meeting the minimum age of 16 to hold any job in the field of agriculture. However, several restrictions apply for employment in non-agricultural fields for workers between the ages of 16 and 18. Restricted jobs include in the following occupations:

• Driving or Assisting in Motor Vehicle Operations
• Manufacturing or Storing Explosives
• Use of Power-Driven Tools/Machinery
• Logging or Sawmilling
• Use of Band Saws and Guillotine Shears
• Brick or Tile Manufacturing
• Roofing
• Wrecking/Demolition
• Shipbreaking
• Excavation

Exceptions
Vermont state law provides for exceptions to minimum age restrictions on employment in non-hazardous fields. Workers younger than 12 may find jobs on farms that do not follow federal minimum wage requirements and operate under certain capacities defined by law. Specific restrictions youths 12 and under must follow to assume agricultural work include farms with less than 500 days in which employees work an hour or more in a three-month period. Minors twelve and under need parental or guardian permission to work in agricultural jobs, which must involve duties deemed safe and appropriate for children of a young age.

Exceptions also exist for occupations in which minors assume apprenticeship or student-learner positions. In the case of the exceptions, youths may even work in hazardous fields. Otherwise, job seekers must stand 18 or older to assume occupations defined hazardous in nature by Vermont youth labor laws.

Vermont Child Labor Laws for Agricultural Jobs

Minimum Requirements and Restrictions
Minors under the age of 18 and above 16 may apply for work in agriculture at any time and in any capacity. Individuals fourteen and fifteen years of age may work on any farm but face restrictions regarding occupations deemed appropriate, suitable, and non-hazardous to the health, safety, and academic integrity of youths. Consent from parents or guardians proves necessary for minors to work in agriculture under the age of 14, while youths under the age of twelve must work on a farm falling under special categorization by Vermont state law and obtain consent from a legal guardian or parent.

Certain restrictions apply to agricultural workers under the age of 16. The state outlines which occupations remain unsafe and unfit for young employees under child labor laws. Below sits a list of farm jobs unsuitable for minors under 16 according to Vermont youth labor laws:

• Operation or Maintenance of Tractors over 20HP
• Operation of Large, Power-driven Equipment for Harvesting, Tilling, Maintenance, or Processing
• Working at Heights Over 20ft.
• Transporting People or Goods by Car, Bus, Tractor, or Truck
• Handling Timber Greater Than Six Inches in Diameter
• Working in Pens, Stalls, or Yards with Newborn Piglets, Newborn Calves Still Possessing Umbilical Cords, or Bulls, Boars, and Horses Intended for Breeding.

source: Vermont child labor laws