Delaware Launches Holiday Helper Workshop to Educate Teen Workers

Delaware teens entering the workforce this holiday season can now access a virtual training program designed to teach them their legal rights and workplace responsibilities.

The Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Industrial Affairs (DIA) launched the “Holiday Helper: Hiring Teen Workers 101” webinar to prepare young workers for the upcoming seasonal hiring surge, news.delaware.gov reported.

The 20-minute on-demand workshop became available on November 1. It serves as a digital expansion of the department’s existing HireME! Teen Job Readiness Workshop, moving the educational content from in-person sessions to a more accessible virtual format.

Designed specifically for individuals aged 14 to 17, the program also targets the adults who support them, including parents, educators, and employers. The webinar uses a narrative approach, featuring a teen presenter named KJ who guides viewers through six different real-world workplace scenarios to demonstrate how state child labor laws function in practice.

The curriculum focuses on several high-stakes areas of employment that often catch young workers off guard. One primary focus is the requirement for work permits, specifically clarifying that a new permit is required for every new job a teen accepts.

The workshop also addresses the following critical areas of labor protection:

Work Hours and Breaks: Details on age-specific restrictions regarding how long a minor can work and when they are entitled to breaks.
Prohibited Occupations: Identification of hazardous tasks and specific equipment that are legally off-limits to young workers.
Tips and Pay: Guidance on wage protections to ensure that earned tips do not result in a worker receiving less than the legal minimum wage.
Employment Scams: Instructions on spotting red flags in fraudulent job advertisements and protecting personal data.

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to enter the workforce feeling informed, confident, and prepared,” said Secretary Moultrie. “As employers bring on additional staff for the holiday season, it is important that teens understand their workplace rights and the responsibilities that come with having a job.”

The program includes a welcome message from U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and aims to foster a safer environment for the state’s next generation of employees.

This initiative is part of a broader, two-year effort by the Office of Wage & Hour to expand youth outreach across the state. The department has been working in tandem with the Delaware Youth Workforce Connection (DYWCC) to build a network involving community organizations, state agencies, and workforce partners.

By integrating these educational resources into a statewide network, the Department of Labor intends to connect those who support young people with the specific information needed to promote lawful employment. The goal is to move beyond periodic in-person events to provide continuous, accessible resources for families and community partners.

The Division of Industrial Affairs, which oversees this program, is responsible for enforcing state laws related to worker protection, workplace safety, and employment rights throughout Delaware. Registration for the workshop is required and can be completed through the official Holiday Helper Registration page.

The state’s emphasis on digital accessibility follows a period of increased collaboration between the Office of Wage & Hour and local educators to strengthen the safety of the youth labor market.

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