Minor job restrictions: 5 state checks before a shift

Minor job restrictions: the short answer for shift leads

The first task to rule out is any role involving a cash transaction after sunset or 8 p.m. at a fixed location for a minor. Michigan Legislature defines this specific employment condition in its statute. If your shift schedule includes a minor on a register during that evening window, check that task against the statute and confirm compliance before posting the roster.

You do not need to guess if a task fits this category. The rule names the activity: cash transactions. It names the time: after sunset or 8 p.m. It names the location type: fixed location. If a minor is assigned to handle cash in a store after 8 p.m., the task falls under this condition and needs review against the Michigan statute. If the statute applies, reassign the cash handling to an adult or move the minor off the register during that period. For evening shifts in general, see teen closing shifts checks.

Key takeaways: which jobs and tasks to rule out before a shift

Before you post a shift, check each task against your state's specific limits. For the roster step, see teen shift eligibility checks. The following five checks cover the primary restrictions you must verify.

1. Cash handling after 8 p.m. Michigan sets a condition on a minor working in an occupation involving a cash transaction after sunset or 8 p.m. at a fixed location. If your store processes cash after this time, check whether those register duties fall under this condition before assigning minors to them. Michigan Legislature

2. Vehicle size limits Texas restricts minors from operating vehicles with more than two axles or a gross vehicle weight exceeding 15,000 pounds. Check the vehicle specs before assigning any driving task. Texas Workforce Commission

3. Selling under 14 Texas bars employing anyone under 14 and unaccompanied by a parent to sell or solicit goods or services, except for exempt organizations or parent-owned businesses. Rule out independent selling tasks for younger teens. Texas Workforce Commission

4. Age 21 business limit Texas prohibits minors under 21 from working in sexually oriented businesses. Verify the business classification before assigning any shift in this sector. Texas Workforce Commission

5. Apprentice and learner exception In Texas, a child who is 16 or 17 may be employed as an apprentice or student learner only for prohibited occupations marked with an asterisk. Check the occupation list for this specific marker. Texas Workforce Commission

Before you post: hours and permit lines to check

Before you post a minor’s shift, check the hours and permit lines against the specific Michigan Legislature pages that apply to that age group. The Michigan Legislature maintains separate rules for minors under 16 and those 16 or older regarding days and hours of employment. You must verify which age bracket your employee falls into before assigning specific time slots. For a fuller hours check, see minor workday limits. The legislation also defines prohibited occupations and sets minimum ages for certain roles, including specific exceptions and limitations.

For a 14-year-old, an exemption exists if the employer has an agreement or contract with the governing body of a school district, public school academy, or nonpublic school. This exemption depends on that agreement or contract. Finally, you must post a copy of MCL 409.110, 409.111, and 409.112 and keep a time record. These posting and record-keeping duties are separate from the hours rules.

While assigning tasks: vehicles, selling and safety equipment

When you place a minor on a shift, the specific tasks they perform matter as much as the hours they work. Check certain physical and operational duties before the schedule goes live. The restrictions below come from state-level sources and apply to the specific jurisdictions named.

Vehicle operations in Texas If your schedule includes driving, check the vehicle specifications against Texas rules. According to Texas Workforce Commission, a minor may operate a vehicle with no more than two axles and not more than 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Under this provision, minors may not be assigned to vehicles with more than two axles or more than 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Do not apply this limit to other states without checking their rules.

Selling in Texas Soliciting goods or services is a common task for minors, but Texas places strict limits on who can do it alone. The Texas Workforce Commission bars employing anyone under 14 and unaccompanied by a parent to sell or solicit goods or services for any person other than an exempt organization or a business owned or operated by a parent or legal custodian. This means an employer cannot have a 13-year-old sell goods or services for a third-party company without a parent present. If the business is owned by the minor’s parent or legal custodian, or if the organization is exempt, the accompaniment requirement does not apply in the same way. Check the ownership structure of any soliciting business before assigning this task.

Review your task list against these three categories. If a task involves driving in Texas, verify the axle count and weight. If it involves selling in Texas, check the minor’s age and the business ownership. If a minor is employed in Florida, confirm the required safety equipment is present. These checks prevent you from posting a shift that violates state-specific task limits.

Illustrative example: one weekly roster

A shift lead has two minors on next week’s roster. Minor A, age 16, works in Michigan and is set to run the register at a fixed store location after 8 p.m. That task falls under the cash condition and needs review against the statute before posting. Minor B, age 13, works in Texas and is scheduled to sell goods for a third-party company with no parent present. Under the Texas rule, that assignment is barred. The shift lead moves Minor A off the register after 8 p.m., removes Minor B from the selling task, and rechecks both entries before posting.

Special jobs: apprenticeships, firefighting and attractions

Certain roles require specific training systems or safety documentation before a minor can participate. The Texas Workforce Commission restricts employment in prohibited occupations marked with an asterisk for most minors, but it creates an exception for a child who is 16 or 17 working as an apprentice or student learner. This exception applies strictly to those asterisked roles; it does not extend to every prohibited job. When you assign a 16 or 17-year-old to a task, check the occupation list to see if it carries the asterisk before relying on this learner status.

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry allows 17-year-old junior firefighters to participate in live-burn interior firefighting training exercises. This participation is limited to the Pennsylvania State Academy Fire training system’s interior firefighting training module. A certified instructor must be on site at all times during these exercises. You cannot assign a 17-year-old to this training unless both the specific module and the certified instructor are present.

The same Pennsylvania source requires haunted attraction operators to submit safety plans before requesting minors in performance permits. If you manage an attraction that uses minors in performances, the department now mandates this safety plan submission as a prerequisite for the permit. Do not request the permit for minors until the safety plan is submitted.

Verify the specific asterisk status of the task in Texas or the safety plan status in Pennsylvania before posting the shift.

Newspaper carriers: age range to verify after posting

Once the schedule is posted, verify that the age of any minor assigned to a newspaper delivery route falls within the specific range defined by state law. According to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, a “newspaper carrier” is any minor between 12 and 18 years of age who delivers, solicits, sells, and collects for newspapers on residential routes outside of school hours. If you employ a teen in this capacity, confirm their age is within the 12 to 18 range and that their delivery shifts do not overlap with school hours.

Reference table: restrictions by publisher

The table below lists the specific restrictions and definitions documented for each publisher.

Use this table to verify that each task on your schedule matches the specific rule for the state where the work occurs. Today, pull next week’s roster and check each task against the matching row.

FAQ: minor job restriction questions

What are the main minor job restrictions to check on a shift?

Check cash handling after sunset or 8 p.m., vehicle size limits, selling rules, age-limited businesses, and specific training or attraction permits. These checks cover the core task restrictions before you post a minor’s shift.

Does the Texas vehicle size limit apply in my state?

The limit is a Texas rule, so do not assume it applies in your state. It covers vehicles with no more than two axles and not more than 15,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, as noted in the Texas Child Labor Law. Check your own state’s statute before applying it.

Can a 16 or 17 year old work in a prohibited job in Texas?

A child who is 16 or 17 may be employed as an apprentice or student learner for prohibited occupations marked with an asterisk, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. This exception applies only to the specific asterisked jobs listed in the Texas Child Labor Law.

When does Michigan treat cash handling by a minor differently?

Michigan applies a condition to the employment of a minor in an occupation involving a cash transaction after sunset or 8 p.m. at a fixed location, according to the Michigan Legislature. This specific time-based restriction governs cash handling duties for minors in Michigan.

What ages does New Jersey give for a newspaper carrier?

New Jersey defines a newspaper carrier as a minor between 12 and 18 years of age who delivers, solicits, sells, and collects for newspapers outside of school hours on residential routes, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. This age range and work condition define the role in New Jersey.