How to Get a Work Permit in Washington

Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, was founded in Seattle, Washington. A Starbucks Barista position is a great opportunity for a young person seeking one of their first jobs and there are numerous locations available. In Washington, minors that are interested in obtaining employment are able to do so at the age of 14. For minors to be able to work in Washington, the business that is hiring them must have a Minor Work Permit endorsement on their business license.  Any minor under the age of 18 will have to have a Parent/School Authorization form signed by their parent or guardian, and if they are looking to work during the school year, a school representative. Click here for more information on teen labor laws in Washington.

In Washington, in order for an employer to hire those under the age of 18, they must have a Minor Work Permit endorsement on their business license. In addition, while minors can begin working in Washington at the age of 14, in order for them to work they must have a Parent/School Authorization form signed by their parent or guardian and a school representative if they are looking to work during the school year.

This form, which can be accessed here, will include information about the employment the minor will perform, their pay, and the hours that they will be working. This form is completed and signed by the employer and then provided to the parent or guardian and the appropriate school official. There is a version of this form available for minors who are planning to only work during the summer. The minor will also need to provide proof of their age through a birth certificate, passport, driver’s license or baptismal certificate. The employer will make a copy of the proof of age to keep in their files.

In Washington, employers that are looking to employ minors must first get a Minor Work Permit endorsement on their business license. To obtain this, employers must do the following:

1. Visit the Department of Revenue-Business Licensing Service Web site or click here. You can also go to any Labor and Industries office. The expected response time for online applications is 2-3 business days.
2. Once you receive your business license with a current Minor Work Permit endorsement, you must post it. This must be renewed annually. Fortunately a renewal notice is sent by the Department of Revenue.
3. The employer must complete a Parent/School Authorization form with details about the job the minor will perform, as well as their schedule. Once the employer completes and signs this form, the parent/guardian will be asked to review and sign it. Should the minor be seeking work during the school year, a school official must sign it as well.
4. The Parent/School Authorization form expires every September and must be renewed. It will also need to be renewed if the minor’s schedule changes.
5. The employer must keep the following information on file at the workplace of the minor: employee name, address, dates of employment, a copy of their proof of age, a job description, the hours the minor will work (earliest time, latest time and total work hours daily), the Parent/School Authorization form, rate of pay, and the amount paid each pay period and the number of hours worked. The records must be available to the minor upon reasonable request. The records should be maintained for three years.
6. The employer must follow child labor laws.

Employers in Washington who are looking to hire teenagers under the age of 18 will not find it difficult to do so. The process that the employer needs to follow is straightforward. Unlike most states, the employer is responsible for obtaining the permission to hire a minor. The employer is required to follow child labor laws and must have a completed Parent/School Authorization form on file prior to allowing the minor to begin work.