As a reminder to Michigan employers, significant changes to youth employment laws are coming under Public Act 196 of 2024 (House Bill 5594). These updates are designed to modernize the work permit process and enhance protections for minors, and they carry important implications for your hiring and scheduling practices.

Impacts for Employers:

• Reduced Work Hours for Minors ages 14-15 (Effective March 31, 2026): work hour restrictions for minors aged 14 and 15 will be reduced. These limits aim to protect minors’ well-being and ensure time for education and rest.
  
  • During school sessions (Labor Day–May 31):
    
    • Work only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
    • No more than 3 hours per day and 18 hours per week.
      
    • The excess portion is subject to a 20% excise tax, which the employer must withhold.
  • During summer (June 1–Labor Day):
    
    • Work allowed until 9 p.m.
    • Up to 40 hours per week.

• New Work Permit System (Transition by October 1, 2026): The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) will take over issuing and managing work permits via a centralized online system. This new system aims to improve oversight, ensure legal compliance, and simplify administrative processes for employers.

• Employers must:
  
  • Register with LEO in order to hire minors, submit detailed employment information, and confirm compliance with all applicable laws.
  • Notify LEO upon termination of a minor’s employment.

• Compliance and Accountability:
  
  • LEO will maintain a public database of authorized employers.
  • Non-compliant employers may be removed from the database and lose the ability to hire minors.
  • Permits can be revoked for legal violations or poor school attendance.

Why This Matters: These changes will directly affect how employers recruit, schedule, and manage young workers, as well as avoid sanctions and continue offering youth employment opportunities responsibly.

For additional information:

• MI House Bill (HB) 5594 of 2024
• MI Governor Gretchen Whitmer Press Release
• MI Labor and Economic Opportunity – Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA) horizontal list
• MI WHD-9803 Youth Employment Standards Act (YESA) Brochure

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