Office of Human Resources
Standard Operating Procedure
HR SOP #004-B
Subject:
Employment of Individuals Less Than 18 Years of Age
Effective Date:
April 16, 2015
Policy Statement:
Employment of qualified persons under the age of 18 will be in accordance with Georgia Law.
Definitions:
ID Card: The ID Card referred to in this SOP is the Permanent Identification Proof of Age Minors 16
and 17 Years of Age (DOL-4102).
Issuing Officer: A County Superintendent of Schools/Designee, Designated Issuing Officer of a
public school, or Principal Administrative Officer of a licensed private school or designee that is
designated to issue Youth Employment Certificates.
Youth Employment Certificate: A certificate issued by the Georgia school attended or the County
School Superintendent through the Georgia Department of Labor (DOL) certifying that an individual
who is age 12-17 is eligible to work. Note: The certificate is also referred to as an Employment
Certificate or Work Permit.
Procedure:
Minimum Age:
Individuals under 16 years of age shall not be employed or permitted to work in any work unit of
the Department of Natural Resources.
Sixteen and seventeen year olds should not be permitted to start work until they have presented
their ID Card or Employment Certificate to their supervisor.
ID Card:
Sixteen and seventeen year old minors that have been previously employed should have an ID Card
issued by the school attended or the Superintendent of Schools. This card is used in place of the
Employment Certificate.
Employment Certificate:
Individuals who are 16 or 17 years of age, and this is their first job, are required to obtain a Youth
Employment Certificate and present it to the hiring supervisor. The minor will initiate the following
process which will require action by the supervisor to complete the process:
1. Minor completes Section A of a Work Permit Data Sheet online on the DOL website and
provides a copy of the Work Permit Data Sheet to the supervisor;
1
2. Supervisor goes online to http://www.dol.state.ga.us/em/online_work_permit.htm to
access the page with the link to ‘Work Permit – Employer’s Instructions for the Online
System’ and to access the ‘Employer’ link of the DOL Youth Work Permit Online system;
3. Supervisor follows the Employer’s Instructions for the Online System to complete Section B;
4. Supervisor provides a copy of the confirmation page to the minor, who informs the Issuing
Officer that Sections A & B have been completed; and
5. Issuing Officer goes online, completes Section C and provides a Work Permit to the minor to
give to the supervisor.
DNR managers are required to keep a copy of the Employment Certificate or ID Card on the
premises where the work is performed for the duration of the minor’s employment. A copy of the
Employment Certificate or ID Card must be forwarded to the Office of Human Resources with the
hiring package.
Alcoholic Beverages:
Employees under the age of 18 may not dispense, serve, sell or take orders for any alcoholic
beverages.
Failure of supervisors to strictly adhere to this procedure when hiring anyone who is less than 18
years of age may be deemed a violation of State law and may be subject to disciplinary action, up
to and including dismissal.
Attachments:
None