Part-Time Teen Workers in Maryland

Whether it is over the summer or during the school year, many teenagers in Maryland work part-time jobs. Even though they may be at work for fewer hours each week than a full-time worker, they can also be at risk of suffering a job-related injury that can require days, weeks, or months away from work in order to recover, along with a need for medical care. If you are a teen worker who was recently injured on the job, or if you have a child who was injured while working in a part-time position, you are likely wondering: is it possible for part-time teenage workers in Maryland to seek workers compensation benefits?

In general, the answer to that question is yes. Our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers can tell you more about teenagers in part-time jobs in the state, and how the workers’ compensation system pays out.

Understanding Teenagers and Part-Time Work 

Many people assume that the number of teen workers who are employed in part-time positions and who get hurt on the job is so small that the issue is not particularly relevant, but that is a mistaken assumption. Indeed, according to a recent report in The Washington Post, part-time teen employment recently “reached a 14-year high,” and more high schoolers than ever are seeking part-time jobs after school and during summer and other vacations. It is an upward trend among Gen Z high-schoolers, according to the report, and about 37 percent of all teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are either employed in a part-time job or currently seeking one. According to the Pew Research Center, that percentage totals about 5.5 million teenagers.

What kinds of part-time jobs are most common among teenagers who are employed? According to Pew data, teens tend to work in part-time positions that come with a significant number of injury risks, including but not limited to the following:

• Accommodation and food services (more than 36 percent);
• Retail (more than 21 percent);
• Entertainment and recreation (more than 8 percent);
• Hospital and health services (Nearly 5 percent);
• Manufacturing (about 4 percent);
• Construction (nearly 4 percent); and
• Transportation and warehousing (about 3.5 percent).

In the summer, hotels, motels, restaurants, and resorts have the highest increase in part-time summer employment of teenagers.

Part-Time Underage Teen Workers Can Be Eligible for Workers’ Compensation Benefits 

Maryland workers’ compensation can be available to part-time, underage teen workers. The process for filing a claim functions like any other workers’ compensation claim. There are some distinctions in terms of the amount of wage replacement benefits (they will be based on part-time work), and there are also issues to consider if the teen worker did not have a work permit. A workers’ compensation lawyer can discuss all issues with you and help with the workers’ compensation claims process.

Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

If you have a teenager who was recently injured while working part-time, it is critical to know that Maryland workers’ compensation is not just for full-time, adult employees. Indeed, your teenager’s injury may be compensable through the Maryland workers’ compensation system. It is important to get in touch with one of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC to discuss the case. Contact us today for more information.

Sources:

washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/21/teen-jobs-pandemic-wages/

pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/06/21/after-dropping-in-2020-teen-summer-employment-may-be-poised-to-continue-its-slow-comeback/#:~:text=In%20May%2C%20about%205.5%20million,32.4%25%20in%20May%202021