Youth Employment Changes Coming October 1

Changes to the Youth Employment Standards Act were put into place through Public Act 196 of 2024 on April 2, 2025. Effective 18 months from then, Oct. 1, 2026, the responsibility of issuing and managing work permits for minors transfers from schools to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).

An online registration system will go live, and minors and employers must register with the state of Michigan. Employers must be authorized to hire minors and to notify LEO when a minor’s employment ends.

Until the law changes, retailers are encouraged to:

• Continue accepting school-issued work permits until the law changes on October 1.
• Plan for the upcoming LEO work authorization process by incorporating it into your hiring and onboarding timelines.
• Review job duties and work schedules to ensure they comply with age-specific labor requirements. Take the time to train and re-train supervisors and managers on Michigan's youth employment rules and restrictions.
• Be prepared: Businesses may need to increase transparency as LEO launches its new public employer database.

For official guidance and updates, employers should monitor LEO’s resources for the Youth Employment Standards Act at Michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/ber/wage-and-hour/youth-employment-standards-act-yesa

As the new standard rolls out, we’re here to help with your questions and concerns. Email askusfirst@retailers.com to hear from our team of professionals and to help us understand how this change is affecting how you hire youth workers.