District of Columbia Requirements When Employing Minors

The District of Columbia imposes certain requirements on employers who hire minors (persons under the age of 18 years). These requirements depend on the age of the minor, the type of employment involved and the time period of the employment. The District imposes some seasonal restrictions on employment, as well as restrictions on the number of hours per day and week, and the specific time periods during which a minor may work during the day. Finally, as a general rule, no minor will be permitted to work if it will be dangerous to their health, safety, or welfare.

The following are the key points for Georgetown departments in considering the hire of persons under the age of 18 years in the District. Please read this information carefully as there are some important restrictions in the law. Please note also that there are additional requirements for the supervisors of certain minors. Please see the Protection of Minors Policy for more information.

If You’re Hiring Someone Who Is Age 16 or 17

The minor employee needs a permit (see Permits below).

  • Minors aged 16 or 17 are allowed to work no more than six consecutive days a week, no more than 48 hours a week, and no more than eight hours any day. They may not work before 6:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m.
  • Minors age 16 or 17 may not work at operating any freight or non-automatic elevator or in a quarry, tunnel, or excavation.

If You’re Hiring Someone Who Is Age 14 or 15

The minor employee needs a permit (see Permits below).

  • Minors age 14 or 15 are allowed to work no more than six consecutive days a week, no more than 48 hours a week, and no more than eight hours any day. If the minor is under 16, he/she may not work before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. (except that during the summer, June 1st through Labor Day, a minor under 16 is permitted to work until 9:00 p.m.).
  • Minors under 16 may not work at jobs operating electrically powered machinery, or in oiling, wiping, or assisting with cleaning machinery (unless they are in a vocational education or training program approved by the District of Columbia Board of Education). Minors under 18 may not work at operating any freight or non-automatic elevator or in a quarry, tunnel, or excavation.

If The Minor Is Under Age 14

If a minor is under 14, he/she cannot work in any connection with a gainful occupation and therefore cannot be hired at the university. The only exception for this would be for theatrical performers (see Theatrical Permits below).

Note that other rules not likely to be applicable to work at the university also apply to the employment of minors in the District of Columbia. These include rules that permit minors (including those under age 14 in some circumstances) under certain conditions: to do housework or agricultural work at the home of their parents or guardians, or to engage in the distribution or sale of newspapers in a public place.

Permits

There are three different types of permits: work, vacation, and theatrical. A permit is needed for all employment unless the minor is “employed” outside of school hours in irregular or casual work at the home of the employer, as long as it is not in connection with a business, trade, profession, or occupation of the employer. For example, mowing a neighbor’s lawn does not require a permit.

Note also that a District of Columbia work permit is required for any work performed at the university, regardless of the residence (e.g., Maryland or Virginia) of the minor employee.

Official Work Permit and Child Labor Application

  1. Work Permits must be applied for by the minor.

Work Permits should be obtained from:

Ms. Victoria Lewis
Administrative Assistant, Counseling Department
Jackson-Reed High School
victoria.lewis@k12.dc.gov
(202) 282-0120 ext.1262161
Rm. 108

Students requesting a work permit may schedule an appointment or walk-in to get the form completed. The student must bring the following:

  1. The application form with: Part B signed by their parent/guardian and Part C completed by the employer.
  2. Their original Social Security card.
  3. A copy of their birth certificate or Passport.
  4. A letter of intent to hire (could be via email from the employer) indicating the nature of the employer’s occupation, and the number of hours per day and the days per week that the minor will work.

(Students ages 14-15 need a letter of consent from their parent/guardian)

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday
9:00am – 3:30 pm (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm lunch break)
Walk-ins accepted

Location:
Jackson-Reed High School
3950 Chesapeake Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016

Via metro: red line from Dupont Circle to Tenleytown (can take the GUTS bus to Dupont)
Via bus: 31 or 33 bus north towards Friendship Heights (picks up on Wisconsin & P)

Jackson-Reed Work Permit Website

  • The application must state the name, sex, date, place of birth, and place of residence of the minor.
  • It must also state the last grade completed by the minor and any other details the Board may consider necessary to identify the minor.
  • It shall state the name and address of the employer, the nature of the occupation employed, and must certify that all the requirements imposed have been met. It then must be signed by the issuing officer, assigned a permit number, provided with the date of issue, signed by the minor and mailed or delivered to the employer.
  • It must include a statement by the employer or his/her agent stating that the employer expects to provide the minor with employment, indicating the nature of the employer’s occupation, the number of hours per day and the days per week which the minor will work. (See the Sample Letter below.)
  • Minors under 16 must also submit a certificate of physical fitness for the specified employment, which must be signed by a licensed physician, and the written consent of a parent, guardian or custodian must be attached.
  • In order to issue the permit, the Board requires evidence of the minor’s age in the form of a birth certificate or attested transcript by an authorized officer, records from the first school attended, a baptismal record or certified transcript with date of birth and place of baptism, a contemporary record kept in a family Bible where such dates are preserved or any other documentary evidence satisfactory to the Board.

For additional information about obtaining a Work Permit, call Ms. Victoria Lewis at 202-282-0120 or email victoria.lewis@k12.dc.gov

2. Vacation Permits may be issued to minors between the ages of 14 and 16. The permit allows the minor to work during regular summer vacation periods of public school or during the school term when school is not in session. The application requirements are the same as for the work permit, except that the minor does not have to complete the eighth grade. The permit is a different color than the work permit and states the permissible periods the minor may work.

3. Theatrical Permits may be issued by the Board of Education, which allow minors to participate in performances of licensed theatres, musicals, dance recitals, concerts, radio and television programs, motion pictures, professional sports activities, the circus, or appear as a fashion model. With a valid theatrical permit, minors may not appear in more than two live performances per day, nor more than eight live performances in one week. Minors may not work before 7:00 a.m. or after 11:30 p.m. Additional limitations are imposed for minors age 7 and under.

Penalties

A violation occurs when a minor is permitted to work without compliance with the law or if an employer interferes with the Board, its officers or agents, or other authorized personnel. Upon the first offense, the employer may be fined between $1,000 and $3,000, imprisoned between 10 and 30 days, or both. Upon a second offense, the employer may be fined between $3,000 and $5,000, imprisoned between 30 and 90 days, or both. Each day of the violation is considered a separate offense.

Sample Letter

To the Board of Education:

GeorgetownUniversity intends to employ insert name of minor, aged insert age, in the position of insert job title and description. The term of employment will begin insert start date and end insert finish date. The University expects to employ the above named individual insert number of hours a day and insert number of days a week.

GeorgetownUniversity is a nonprofit corporation organized for educational purposes. The Department of insert name of department and brief description.

This letter is intended to meet the requirement imposed by the District of Columbia for the employment of minors under D.C. Code � 36-509.

Sincerely,

Signature

Name of Employer

(or an agent of the employer)