Hiring Interns, Externs and Minors
About Interns
The primary purpose of an internship is for the intern to gain knowledge or training in a specific area; an intern position can be either paid or unpaid. If your department is considering hiring an intern:
About Externs
An extern is a recent Carnegie Mellon graduate who has been working in a student job and is hired immediately after graduation to complete work begun in the job. Externships are temporary staff positions, for a term of fewer than four months. These positions are not benefits-eligible; however, the mandatory benefit rate of 10% will be charged to your department. When hiring an extern, you are strongly encouraged to prepare a written statement, to be acknowledged by the extern, that fully outlines the terms of the appointment.
Externships are not renewable. If you wish to extend an appointment beyond four months, you must post the position as a regular staff vacancy prior to the end of the four-month extern appointment.
Hiring Minors
The following are general standards that are designed to protect minors under the age of 18 and prohibit employment in jobs that are detrimental to minors' education, health and well-being. Before employing anyone under the age 18, contact your Human Resources Manager to ensure that you are in compliance with Child Labor Laws.
Hours of Employment
|
Ages
|
Maximum hours
during school year
|
Maximum hours
during summer
|
Times allowed during summer
(June 1 - Labor Day)
|
Times allowed
during the rest
of the year
|
|
14-15
|
3 hours/day
18 hours/week
|
8 hours/day
40 hours/week
|
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
|
7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
|
|
16-17
|
8 hours/day
28 hours/week
|
8 hours/day
44 hours/week
|
6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m. (except Fri/Sat: until 1:00 a.m.)
|
6:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
|
|
all under 18
|
no more than 6 days/week
|
no more than five hours continuously without at least a 30 min. lunch break
|
Hazardous Employment
In general, there may be a prohibition under the Child Labor Laws if the job entails any dangerous activity, machinery other than typical office equipment, contact with alcoholic beverages, driving, or strenuous physical activity. Your Human Resources Manager can evaluate a job position description to determine compliance with child labor standards.
Employment Certificates
No person under the age of 18 (except summer camp counselors or early academic graduates) may be employed without a general or vacation employment certificate. Employment certificates are issued by school authorities and, except for transferable work permits, must be kept on file by the employer. The original copy of the work permit must be forwarded to the Payroll Services prior to employment.
