The State of Michigan has recently created an exception to the requirement that a minor must have a work permit from the minor’s school in order to be employed. Effective immediately, a work permit is not required for a minor who is working as an unpaid volunteer for a charitable organization that is recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The law also seems to cover organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the IRS, as long as the organization’s “purposes, structure, or activities are exclusively those that are described in Section 501(c)(3).” A copy of the amended law is attached.
The exception does not apply to a non-profit organization that is outside the scope of Section 501(c)(3), such as a Chamber of Commerce, trade association or real estate board. These other organizations would need to get work permits for volunteers who are minors.
This article was written by Mark S. Demorest, Managing Member of Demorest Law Firm.
