Maine - As school vacation draws near, Maine's employers, parents and teens look to summer employment as a solution to their needs. Parents hope that summer jobs will give their children some insight into possible careers and teach the power of earning your own money. Employers look to fill gaps in their workforce during the busy summer tourist season. Teens want to make money, meet new people and have fun. An update to the classifications of employment available to minors will help Maine's teens find more work this summer.
Bill Ellis, director of marketing at Point Sebago Resort in Casco, stressed the important contribution teens make in their business, "A large portion, nearly half, of Point Sebago's summer workforce of three to four hundred employees is made up of teens. These young workers are employed as activities counselors, lifeguards, wait staff, entertainers, maintenance crew, at the golf course, and in dozens of other positions throughout the 775 acre resort."
For teens under the age of 16, restrictions limit the types of jobs and the hours they can work. Minors cannot work jobs considered "hazardous." The Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Standards has updated the restrictions to bring them more in line with current federal requirements. This change now allow minors under the age of 16 in Maine to work in movie theaters and bowling alleys and to do more jobs than were permitted previously in such establishments as hotels, motels, and bakeries. For example, although 15-year-olds may not operate the ovens, they can decorate cakes, fill pastries, stock the display cases, and serve customers.
Some of the jobs Maine teens under 18 years old cannot do include operating most mechanical equipment, driving for work, and working alone in a cash-based business.
The revisions have been made to help both employers and teens. "Summer jobs create an opportunity to connect students with pride in earning a paycheck and helping others," said Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass. "Young people can develop a strong work ethic and learn how to manage money. "
There a few steps teens must go through to obtain a work permit. First, teens must look for work and receive a job offer. They then must apply for a work permit at the office of the superintendent of the school district in which they live. All minors under the age of 16 must have a work permit before they start a job, whether or not they attend school. The school district sends the completed application to the Maine Department of Labor for approval. Teens can have two work permits (for two different jobs) in the summer, but only one permit during the school year.
Parents and employers can help expedite the approval process by making sure the work permit request includes both proof of age and parental/guardian approval. The application must contain the specific job title (e.g. "dishwasher"). The name of the business on the permit must be the actual business name, which may be different than what people commonly call it. The Bureau of Labor Standards has sent the updated list of restricted employment to all school districts in Maine.
A copy of the Guide to Maine Laws Governing the Employment of Minors is posted on the Maine Department of Labor website and is available by request by calling 623-7900.
Teens looking for summer jobs and employers seeking workers can visit Maine's Job Bank, an online job posting and job search system on the CareerCenter website at www.mainecareercenter.com. Employers can upload and manage job postings on Maine's Job Bank at no cost, and workers can search for jobs that match their qualifications and preferences. Thousands of Maine jobs are posted on Maine's Job Bank, and the service attracts visits from thousands of job seekers each week.
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