What's needed for Working Papers? And a few more questions...
It is most often started after the teen is hired. I believe it the employer starts the process by filling out the first part of the form and handing it to the kid.
Are you trying to get papers for a summer job before summer?
*meaning there is some flexibility on timing.
And yes, your son needs to have an "offer of work" with the prospective employer filling in all the info regarding hours and duties etc., BEFORE any of the above can happen. Working papers are job specific because, for example, a doctor might clear a child for "movie extra" but not, say, farm work based on a physical limitation. Or a principal might not approve a 40 hour/week restaurant job (it would interfere with schoolwork), but would sign off on a weekend job.
If you haven't found it already, you can download the documents here:
lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/forms_pdfs/lsse/mw-373.pdf
hope this helps.
Yes, I wish to have the process started so he can apply for spring/summer work, that's why I was concerned about the "offer to work" portion since he doesn't have one yet.
Thanks so much to everyone.
Do employers usually wait patiently in order for this process to be completed?
REVISITING -- so no job ever came about last summer BUT he does have seasonal work at the mall. He was told he basically has the job but needs working papers. I have the form semi-completed and can fill in where he will be working, hours, etc. Does this form go to the EMPLOYER? I'm confused. Sorry.
the sections on the form are filled out by the doctor childs school and employer then returned to BOE, they file it and give you a copy, one for you and one for employer
The real aggravation is on the employer. They have to keep records of the specific hours worked, breaks and so forth.
I went to a Catholic high school and was able to get working papers there. I did not have a job offer when I got them. You do need an offer before it can actually be filled out...but the blank form was picked up so it was available when an offer was made.
I let my teen workers handle the papers themselves. Their HS guidance office was helpful, and classmates knew and shared the procedure.
Thanks all. I'm receiving so many different ways to go about this and I was really hoping there was just one direct process. I'm calling the BOE to see if I can get it straight from them. Thanks.
if they are in a private school (not home schooled) the private school should be able to issue them.
i don't see how the public school could issue it as the student does not attend and the principal of the public high school couldn't sign off...
from the link listed earlier...a blank copy of working papers can be found at
(form A300) online at nj.gov/labor (see
back cover for instructions)
print it out..have the employer/doctor/school do their parts.....
jmitw said:
if they are in a private school (not home schooled) the private school should be able to issue them.
i don't see how the public school could issue it as the student does not attend and the principal of the public high school couldn't sign off...
Because we are SO residents, the school and/or BOE can still issue to us and can also sign off on the paper work.
I spoke to a lovely woman at CHS yesterday who handles all working papers and signs off on them. She explained to me the process and that there is no order in which to get the info filled in. The most difficult part and/or time consuming, is waiting for the employer to fill out their section.
Once guidance counselor (the form states principal but she said it is ok for guidance to sign off) doctor, employer signs off, the form is taken to her at CHS with a copy of either the child's birth certificate, Baptismal documents or Passport and she will review and sign off. Done.
I'm a long way off from having my kids working, but what in the world is all of this discussion? I'm not THAT old, but when I was a teenager, I went to the local carpenter, he hired me and then he paid me. And then the next year I went to the pizza place, they hired me and then paid me. My school had nothing to do with any of this. Consider that I grew up in a small, rural Midwest town so if this is a specific NJ requirement, I'm completely bewildered, however, am I to understand that in order for a teenager to get some real life work experience before college here, a doctor needs to verify the kid is fit to work (can't the parent, the child and the employer ascertain that?) and your school has to authorize you to be employed (why should the school supersede the role of the parent)?
What happened to the parents role in all of this? Or the trust in our kids?
ArchBroad said:
I'm a long way off from having my kids working, but what in the world is all of this discussion? I'm not THAT old, but when I was a teenager, I went to the local carpenter, he hired me and then he paid me. And then the next year I went to the pizza place, they hired me and then paid me. My school had nothing to do with any of this. Consider that I grew up in a small, rural Midwest town so if this is a specific NJ requirement, I'm completely bewildered, however, am I to understand that in order for a teenager to get some real life work experience before college here, a doctor needs to verify the kid is fit to work (can't the parent, the child and the employer ascertain that?) and your school has to authorize you to be employed (why should the school supersede the role of the parent)?
What happened to the parents role in all of this? Or the trust in our kids?
Ditto. Although Boston is not a small town, my first job at 15 was w/out drama. Walked in, asked if help was needed, got a job.
The law in question serves to make sure that kids do not work excessive hours or hours that interfere with their schoolwork
Shouldn't parents be the judge of that? I was a straight A student, and held a job to make money for things like buying a car and all the dumb things teenagers like to do. If I was doing poorly in school, my parents would not have allowed me to work... ETA, perhaps it's a difference of upbringing, but I fail to understand why the school counselor and the government should override the child and their parents evaluation.
sac said:
The law in question serves to make sure that kids do not work excessive hours or hours that interfere with their schoolwork
I was going to say that the school has a say in this because of compulsory education laws up to age 16, so they have a right to make sure that employment isn't interfering with education. But then I looked it up and apparently working papers are needed until the age of 18, so compulsory education is not the reason the school has a say. I can't recall my exact age when I got my first job,but I don't recall getting working papers. I don't know if the age was raised since then, or if I happened to be 18 at the time and it didn't apply.
Unfortunately all parents do not always make decisions in the best interest of their kids. Perhaps the law is to protect minors.
NJ was also heavy industry so there would be the potential for child labor exploitation at the time of the Progressive era when Workmens Comp and child labor laws were passed.
On the Midwest, farm labor was predominant and the tyke was expected to work on the farm. School calendars were built around that economy.
If all parents made these kinds of decisions in the best interest of their children, there would be no need for any child labor laws, but those laws are nothing new in general.
I remember having to get my working papers when I was 14 or 15 in New York City--this was the mid-80s. You got the papers first and then looked for job, if my memory serves me correctly.
I grew up in PA (where there had been coal mines, back in the day) and vaguely remember my brothers having to get working papers to start working before age 16.
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My son doesn't attend public school but wishes to have his working papers. I believe I still go to the BOE to start this process, no? If so, what department handles this?
What paper work is needed to apply? Is a physical required for the paper work to be complete? Does the minor have to be present? Who "signs off" on the paperwork? Teachers? Principal? Guidance?
Also, someone told me that the child actually has to be hired and a job secured BEFORE applying for working papers. That doesn't make sense to me but he was adamant. What's the deal on that issue?
Thanks so much!