So, You Want To Offer A Student A Summer Job?

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What Businesses And Teenagers Should Keep In Mind

Free from the restraints and structure of a normal school day, students in the summertime have the chance to gain a little work experience. And if that isn’t an attractive incentive for the average teenager, then at least making a little bit of spending money might be motivation.

For businesses, that means a little more help around the workplace and possibly exposing a young person to an industry or trade.

But what do students and employers need to know to ensure this is a mutually beneficial experience for everyone involved?

Employers should recognize that not every kid is looking for the same experience out of a summer job. “You have two different groups of kids,” explained Melissa Bajadek, Signature Program facilitator at Chesapeake High School. “You have kids who are more interested in doing a job that will give them some spending money. … You have the other group of students who are a little more geared toward what might be in the realm of job training.”

The first group, as Bajadek explained, might seek service or retail jobs and be happy to bus tables, stock shelves, bag groceries or ring cash registers.

The second group will want a job in an office geared toward the professional industry they want to enter. Even if they are doing basic administrative duties, such as answering the phones or working the reception desk, they’ll appreciate the exposure by simply being in a physical therapy office or law office, for example.

Bajadek noted that schools are beginning to shy away from encouraging specific job opportunities at specific businesses. This is because schools aren’t in a position to promote businesses and determine whether a job is a good fit for students or not. However, if employers want to set up an internship — be it during the summer or during the school year — they should contact Sue Molchan, internship facilitator for Chesapeake High and Northeast High, at smolchan@aacps.org.

For any business looking to hire teenagers for the summer — and students looking to get jobs — Bajadek suggested reasonable expectations with regard to payment and work hours. “Minimum wage is obviously expected, and anywhere between 15 and 20 hours a week is realistic,” she said.

When students are seeking summer jobs, they (and their parents) should know that a child must be at least 14 years old to obtain a work permit issued by the Division of Labor and Industry. Work permits can be obtained through the school or online at www.dllr.state.md.us (click “Minor Work Permits” under the Features panel).

According to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, minors age 14 and 15 can work up to eight hours a day on any given day and up to 40 hours a week when school is not in session (as compared with up to four hours a day and 23 hours a week when school is in session). Minors can work between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00pm during the summer (7:00am and 8:00pm after Labor Day and before Memorial Day).

Minors age 16 and 17 must be allowed eight consecutive hours of non-work, non-school time in a 24 hours period and may not spend more than 12 hours in a combination of school hours and work hours each day. Minors are restricted from certain occupations. For more information, check with the Department of Labor.

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