The World Needs Employers to Develop the Next Generation of Workers
This week I had a last-minute client request to make mailing addresses and return labels on envelopes for their upcoming annual event. I adore this client, and they were really stressed about being behind, so I said sure, why not!
I got all of the labels printed and ready to be put on to the envelopes and I paused - why, am I as the owner, going to stick 350+ mailing and return labels on envelopes when I employ my 15-year-old son!? This activity is just a task to me, but for him it is a sense of pride and an opportunity to earn his own money.
You know what else it taught him?
How to meet set standards
How to communicate and ask questions
Taking pride in his work
Managing money
About the correlation between working and personal income
How to be excited to enter into the workforce
A way for him to feel self-sustaining
Why hire minors?
One reason to hire minors is because they need to learn how to be good employees, a team player, and an active collaborator. These aren’t always taught in homes or translate from experiences at school, but are essential to being productive in the workforce. Hiring minors gives them an opportunity to learn these skills with a patient and understanding employer - thus giving them the building blocks they need to be good employees in the future. And, in certain instances, it can sometimes help a minor support their economically impacted family.
Hiring minors also allows you to supplement your existing staff during your busiest seasons. Many small businesses employ minors in high school during the summer months or holiday seasons.
Hire Your Own Children
If you’re a business owner, you have the ability to hire your own children (often tax free) to help with your business. A lot of new business owners do not know this when they first open their business and miss out on a lot of opportunities to delegate tasks. For example, my son helps with scanning, filing, mailing, office cleaning, and things like that. I don’t necessarily want to (or have the time to) do those things, but they are a sense of pride for him.
If you’re a business owner who is also a parent, I would encourage you to talk to your tax professional about the benefits of hiring your child and talk to your lawyer to make sure that you’re well within your rights as a business-owning parent to hire your child. They both can help you navigate your state-specific laws around employing your children.
How do I find out more information about hiring minors?
Hiring minors can be a tricky topic to navigate. It is essential to understand federal and state child labor laws where your business operates so you can avoid negative impacts.
There are many resources out there, like the “Small Business Guide to Hiring Minors”, published by Resume Builder, that aims to educate business owners about how to hire minors in a way that abides by child labor laws.
If you have questions about your specific state’s child labor laws, I would recommend discussing your questions with a lawyer or a local resource like the Small Business Development Center. They often have good advice and can connect you with people who can help you navigate through the legalities of hiring a minor.
