Youth Employment Permits Are No Longer Mandatory!

Indiana's new youth-employment law, effective July 1, 2021, brings significant changes for employers of minors. The most notable change is the elimination of work permits for minors under 18. Instead, employers with five or more minor employees are now required to use the Indiana Department of Labor’s Youth Employment System (YES) to track and report minor-employee information. This shift aims to streamline the process and ensure better compliance with youth employment regulations.

Setting Up Your YES Account

The YES program, launched on June 1, 2021, has seen widespread adoption, with thousands of employers already registering tens of thousands of minor employees. Employers who fail to comply with the new system risk penalties of up to $400 per infraction, per minor employee. To avoid these costly penalties, setting up a YES account is crucial.

YES is designed for ease of use and accessibility.

Employers can access the system via smartphones, tablets, desktops, or laptops. After setting up an employer profile, entering minor employee data—such as name, age, and hire date—takes just minutes. This efficient system replaces the previous requirement of obtaining work permits from schools, simplifying the administrative process for employers.

Compliance and Requirements

Employers must remember that while YES changes the reporting process, it does not alter the state’s work-hour requirements for minors. Employers must still adhere to the Teens Work Hour restrictions and the Prohibited and Hazardous Occupation restrictions for minors.

Under Indiana Code 22-2-18.1-26, all employers with five or more minor employees must register in YES.

They need to provide corporate and individual location information, along with details about each minor employee. When a minor's employment ends, employers must update YES to remove the minor from the system. Failure to register minors, update their status, or correct the number of minors employed in YES can result in penalties ranging from $100 to $400 per infraction.

Voluntary Participation and Training

Employers with fewer than five minor employees are not mandated to use YES but have the option to do so. For those who need guidance on using YES, the Indiana Department of Labor provides training and support.

Employers can contact YouthEmployment@dol.IN.gov for more information or to schedule a presentation or information session about YES and its requirements.

Conclusion

Indiana’s transition to the YES program represents a significant modernization of youth employment tracking, aiming to simplify compliance for employers and improve oversight of minor employment.

By setting up a YES account and staying informed about the requirements, employers can avoid penalties and ensure they are meeting all legal obligations for employing minors.

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