Where You Can Work If You're 14 or 15 Years Old
Where You Can't Work If You're 14 or 15 Years Old
Where You Can't Work If You're Under 18 Years Old

IF YOU'RE 14 OR 15 YEARS OLD, YOU CAN WORK IN THESE PLACES:

	agriculture (farms, orchards, etc.)
	"street trades" (such as newspaper delivery, shoe shining, baby-sitting, etc.)
	hospitals (except that you can't work in food service or laundry)
	rest homes (no food service or laundry)
	hotels and motels (no food service or laundry)
	banks
	insurance companies
	professional offices (lawyers, accountants, etc.)
	town offices (recreation departments, libraries, etc.)
	golf caddies (on a town golf course)
	acting
	household chores such as yard work for a private homeowner
	licensed summer camps

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IF YOU'RE 14 OR 15 YEARS OLD, YOU CAN'T WORK IN THESE PLACES:

	restaurants or food service
	recreational locations
	manufacturing industries
	mechanical or service industries
	retail or grocery stores *
	theatrical industry
	barber shops
	any other business types not listed on the "can work" list above

*15 year-olds can work as baggers, cashiers or stock clerks in retail or grocery stores during non-school weeks only. (a "Statement of Age/Working Papers" required) Effective October 1, 2000, 15 year olds can work in retail food stores on Saturdays only throughout the school year (maximum 8 hours per day).

There are some exceptions for school-to-career programs, cooperative work experience programs, and city/town summer work-recreation programs. Inquiries about these programs should be directed through your town or city hall.

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IF YOU'RE UNDER 18 YEARS OLD, YOU CAN'T:

	make or store explosives
	drive a car, truck, etc. on the job
	work in a mine
	do logging or saw milling
	use electrical tools, circuits or equipment (except that you can use double insulated hand tools)
	work in a job that exposes you to radioactive materials
	use machine-powered hoisting equipment
	operate powered metal-forming, punching or shearing machines
	work in slaughtering, or meat packing or processing (this includes using electric meat slicers)
	manufacture brick, tile, clay, or other similar products
	work in wrecking, demolition, or ship breaking
	work as a roofer
	do excavating
	work in motor vehicle maintenance and repair, EXCEPT that you CAN:
		do island work
		change tires on passenger cars (no trucks)
		use air hand tools
		do sanding and masking to prepare cars for painting (no spray painting or welding)
		hand clean and wash motor vehicles (without using flammable liquids)
		do clerical or bench work
	bottle beverages
	work in metal processing
	work in coke or tar products processing
	work in dry cleaning or laundry activities
	work in food processing
	work in construction, EXCEPT that you CAN:
		do landscaping (planting small trees, shrubs, etc.)
		work at general yard work and cleaning (no riding reel lawn mowers)
		do brush painting and window cleaning (except that you're not allowed to be on ladders over 6 feet, and you're not allowed to work with flammable cleaners, thinners, etc.)
		do clerical, shipping and stock work
	do glazing or glass cutting
	work in heat treating operations or be a heat treating operations helper
	manufacture ice
	install, maintain, or repair electrical machinery or equipment
	manufacture paper, paper products, or paperboard
	manufacture plastic or plastic products
	manufacture pharmaceutical products
	operate foot, hand or power presses
	work in printing operations
	do pressure testing
	work in synthetic fiber manufacturing
	work in rubber or synthetic rubber products manufacturing or processing
	do spray painting or dipping
	work in stone cutting or processing
	work in leather products processing or tanning
	work in sewing machine operations using needles over 1/16 inch diameter
	work in tire recapping, vulcanizing or manufacturing
	work in textile machinery operations
	work with trash or cardboard compactors

Note: For more information, call (860) 263-6791.

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Last Updated: June 02, 2008
Published by the Connecticut Department of Labor, Project Management Office