22. Is it necessary to have a youth employment certificate (work permit) to get a job while under age 18?
Yes, if a youth is between ages 14 and 17, a youth employment certificate is required prior to employment. A youth who marries remains subject to this rule.
23. Are there any jobs that do not require a youth employment certificate?
No certificate is required for youth employed in agriculture, as a domestic (including baby sitters and companions), as a page in the North Carolina General Assembly or Office of the Governor, or in the distribution of newspapers to the consumer. However, a newspaper delivery person must be at least 12 years old. Youths who are 12 and 13 years of age may be employed outside of school hours for no more than three hours per day. In addition, a youth under age 18 may be a bona-fide volunteer in a medical, educational, religious or non-profit organization where an employer-employee relationship does not exist, without a youth employment certificate.
24. How may a youth obtain an employment certificate?
A youth may obtain a youth employment certificate from the county Department of Social Services in the county in which the youth intends to work. The certificate must be completed by the youth and signed by the youth, the employer and the parent or guardian. The youth must return the completed form to the Department of Social Services with a birth certificate or driver's license, which is used to verify the age of the youth. The youth must sign the certificate in the presence of the issuing officer. The employer's copy of the certificate must be given to the employer by the youth on the first day of employment.
25. Is a separate employment certificate required for each job a youth holds?
Yes, each certificate is applicable only for that specific employer.
26. Can a parent have the child's certificate revoked? Parents may not have their child's certificate revoked if the certificate was issued correctly by the Department of Social Services.
27. What hours may youths work?
Youths age 14 and 15 may not work before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m., except during the summer (when school is not in session), when they may work until 9 p.m. They may work no more than 18 hours per week in a school week, no more than eight hours per day on a non-school day, and no more than 40 hours per week in non-school weeks. Youths age 16 and older have no restrictions on the hours they may work per day, but youths under age 18 who are enrolled in grade 12 or lower may not be employed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on days followed by school days. This restriction does not apply to youths age 16 and 17 who provide the employer with written approval from the youth's parent or guardian and principal for the youth to work beyond the stated hours.
28. Are there any exceptions to the rules concerning what hours can be worked by 14 and 15 year-olds?
Work-hour rules are different if a youth is age 14 or 15 and:
1) has graduated from high school;
2) is subject to an order of the juvenile court prohibiting him/her from attending school;
3) has been expelled from school (which does not include a suspension for a limited time);
4) has a child to support and appropriate state officers, pursuant to state law, have waived school attendance and state youth employment standards; or
5) school is no longer in session for the youth. Such a youth may work no more than eight hours per day and no more
than 40 hours per week.
29. Are there minimumage requirements for employment?
Generally, 14 and 15 year-olds are permitted to work only in office, retail, food service and gasoline service station jobs. Sixteen and 17 year-olds may work in any occupations other than a non-agricultural occupation declared hazardous or detrimental by state and federal laws.
30. Do any jobs require that the holder of the job be at least 18 years old?
Youths must be 18 or older to work in any occupation involving the following: manufacturing and storing explosives; motor-vehicle driving and outside helper (limited exemption for driving - state law only); coal mining; logging and sawmilling; power-driven woodworking machines; exposure to radioactive substances; power-driven hoisting apparatus; power-driven metal forming, punching and shearing machines; slaughtering; meat packing; power-driven bakery machines; power-driven paper-product machines; brick and tile manufacturing; power-driven saws; wrecking; demolition; shipbreaking operations; roofing; excavation; welding; processes where quartz or silicon dioxide or asbestos is present; work involving exposure to lead or benzol; spray-painting; or handling of unsterilized hides or animal or human hair.
31. Are breaks required for youths under age 18?
No youth under 16 years of age shall be employed for more than five consecutive hours without an interval of at least 30 minutes for rest. No breaks are required for youths 16 and 17 years of age.
32. Are youths under 18 years of age allowed to work at an establishment that has an on-premise ABC permit?
No employer who holds an ABC permit for the on-premise sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, including any mixed beverages, shall employ a youth:
1) under 16 years of age on the premises for any purpose (except where a parent is sole owner of the establishment); or
2) under 18 years of age to prepare, serve, dispense or sell any alcoholic beverages.
33. Are there any rules about baby-sitting?
Even though baby-sitting is one of the more common jobs for teenagers and one with much responsibility, there are no regulations. There are some things a baby sitter should keep in mind:
� Do not answer ads for baby-sitting unless you can find out something about the people who placed the ad. You could find yourself in a very uncomfortable or dangerous situation.
� Write down the telephone number where the parents can be reached and the numbers of the doctor and a neighbor to be called in an emergency before the parents leave. Know how to call the police and the fire departments (911 is the emergency number), as well as the poison control center. Write these numbers down and place them near the telephone.
� Find out when the parents expect to return.
� Know the family's rules about bedtime, snacks, television, where the child is allowed to go, and any special problems the child may have.
� Know what a baby sitter's privileges are concerning snacks, watching television, using the telephone or having a friend visit.
� Be clear about rates. Baby sitters are performing a responsible service for the parents and should not hesitate to tell them what they expect to be paid. Most people will appreciate knowing rather than guessing.
� Watch the child ... that is the baby sitter's main job. Do not let anything interfere with the ability to keep the child safe and secure while the parents are away. Many local Red Cross chapters and Cooperative Extension agencies offer baby-sitting programs for teens to learn more about the skills necessary to
be a responsible baby sitter. The U.S. Government Printing Office has an excellent booklet, The Pocket Guide to Baby-sitting, available for $4.50 from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Ask for Stock Number 017-091-00236-3. This guide has many ideas for solving problems and caring for children.
34. Are youths required to pay Social Security?
Social Security is withheld from paychecks by employers and must be paid by all employees regardless of their age; employers contribute an equal amount.
35. What are the benefits of Social Security?
Paying Social Security makes the payer eligible to receive retirement or disability benefits from the government.
36. How may a youth obtain a Social Security card?
Applications for Social Security cards are available from local Social Security offices. The application, an original birth certificate, and one other form of identification must be presented to the Social Security office in order to be issued a card. For more information, contact the Social Security Administration toll-free 1-800-772-1213.
37. Are youths required to pay income taxes?
Depending on the amount of earnings, youths may be required to have federal and state income taxes withheld from their paychecks. If funds are withheld, a tax return must be filed. Yearly, after filing, a refund of the withheld taxes may be issued if the youths are entitled to a refund. Under certain circumstances, a youth may not be required to have income taxes withheld. Check with your employer to see if you qualify for an exemption.