The minimum age for kids to work

In limited situations, kids can start working as young as age thirteen or fourteen - but generally the restriction is sixteen years old. We've probably all seen examples of a nine, ten or eleven year old 'unofficially' working at some family business; doing things like sweeping and cleaning up. Usually they're paid randomly, almost like an allowance; but it isn't an official pay rate that the government records and collects taxes from.

How would you feel about allowing kids of any age to legally work? Keep in mind that I'm not endorsing child labor, but if a ten year old wants to help out at some store after school for an hour or two for some extra candy money, would you be in favor of it, and should they go through the same new official employment procedure that everyone goes through?

No, I'd say if a 10 year old wants to help out anywhere for some extra money, pay him out of pocket. Couple hours of pay won't cost much.

I have a question, do newspaper boys have to go through official employment procedures?

cheaps wrote:No, I'd say if a 10 year old wants to help out anywhere for some extra money, pay him out of pocket. Couple hours of pay won't cost much.

I have a question, do newspaper boys have to go through official employment procedures?

They have to pay taxes on their salary, I know that much.

Most of the time the jobs that kids younger than 16 do aren't stable. Don't think it's necessary to put them on the payroll because chances are it's not regular work. They're more like random "Come by the diner later on and sweep" odd jobs. Too much paperwork to waste on a 10 yr. old.

I think 16 is OK. Let them baby sit, mow lawns, etc. if they're younger.

Alan Smithee wrote:I think 16 is OK. Let them baby sit, mow lawns, etc. if they're younger.

AtownPeep wrote:Most of the time the jobs that kids younger than 16 do aren't stable. Don't think it's necessary to put them on the payroll because chances are it's not regular work. They're more like random "Come by the diner later on and sweep" odd jobs. Too much paperwork to waste on a 10 yr. old.