Can my 7 and 8 year old boys legally work?

Question

My family says I am bring cruel to do this. I want my boys to get a job after school and on the weekend. One has a clubbed foot and my companies insurance will pay for it. I want to fix is so that he can work...otherwise paying the deductible would not be worth it. what do you think?

Answer 1

your family is SO right! you are SO cruel! your son has a clubbed foot, and you're still thinking of saving money and making such a little boy work?? are you his step parent or something? I'm so glad I don't have such a parent, if I did, I'd rather be an orphan...
and the legal working age is 16.

Answer 2

Seriously, child labor was outlawed years ago. A child younger that 14 can do a newspaper route maybe, but that is more of a hobby than a job. If you own a business, which I'm guessing you don't, your children can work for you but you have to pay them. If you wanting to teach them responsibility set some chores around the house. Boys that age should be able to do dishes, take out the trash, vacuum the floors, sweep and mop, feed the animals, things like that and you don't have to give an allowance but some kind of reward is a good idea so that they something to look forward to after slaving for you. My boys have chores like this and I give them each $10 a week they are 9 and 5.

Answer 3

In the US a child cannot legally hold a job until he/she is 14 and there are MANY restrictions. In some states, the age is 16.

Anyhow, I believe that your sons can become paper boys, but I am not for certian because even then, the newspaper might not hire them.

But honestly, you should not force your kids to get a job until they are atleast 14. Even then, they can only legally work like 18 hours a week. They cannot work fulltime until atleast 2 years later.

Answer 4

No they can not legally work and you know that. And yes, you are being cruel. You have a child with a handicap deal with it. If it can be fixed it because he needs it to be fix don't do it so you can have extra money in the house hold. This is the main reason why some people should NOT being parents. You should be reported to Child Services. Refusing your child needed medical attention is against the law.

Answer 5

It is illegal for them to work. Until they are 16, and only certain states will allow minors to work even then. Wait until they are 18 with high school diplomas. Otherwise, its not worth them getting a job. And 7 and 8! You are crazy. Thats like me making my 13 year old brother work and he's not even mature enough yet. Sorry lady, you ARE cruel.

Answer 6

Depends where you live. In the U.S., there is such a thing called Child Labor Laws. Child labor or labour is the employment of children under an age determined by law or custom. This practice is considered exploitive by many international organizations, such as the United Nations, and the International Labour Organization, with the UN stipulating, in article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that:

States Parties recognize the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

In many countries children were forced to make explicit pornographic videos, it is considered inappropriate or exploitative if a child below a certain age works, excluding household chores or school work. An employer is often not allowed to hire a child below a certain age. This minimum age depends on the country, such as in the United States, where the minimum age to work in an establishment without parents consent and restrictions is age 16.
Other forms of work include helping in the parents' business or having one's own small business, either selling small items or doing odd jobs. Some children work as guides for tourists, sometimes combined with working for owners of shops and restaurants, bringing tourists to these businesses. More controversial forms of work include the military use of children, child prostitution, child actors and child singers. According to a UNICEF study, it is a myth that most child labor is in sweatshops that export goods to the rich countries. Most child labor is in the "informal sector" --"selling on the street, at work in agriculture or hidden away in houses — far from the reach of official labour inspectors and from media scrutiny."

Answer 7

You're crazy!!!Boys that age should be doing homework and playing after school and on weekends, not working! If you are having such financial problems maybe you should ask for some help. Food stamps, etc.

To SYDNEY who thinks that this is made up - well it could be, but take off your rose colored glasses girl, there are people out there who would do anything, and I mean anything, for money. (To support their drug habit, their love for booze, etc)

Answer 8

I'm pretty sure they can't do anything over the counter. I think in most states you can't get a workers permit until you're 14 or so. If they did something under the counter, well, then they would be able to work. I'm not sure thats fair to the kids...not my business though.

Answer 9

You are cruel. Why would you have children that you cannot support. And where do you expect them to work? Over at the bank? Perhaps the coal mines...Better yet, make them become chimeny sweeps....bronchitis and lung cancer are only a small price to pay....

Answer 10

Submit their applications and resumes and I will hook them up at my local sweatshop,,, of course there are no benes, the hours are long and they will only be paid pennies per hour,,, kind of like getting them ready for a real world job as soon as they move out of the trailer park and onto work as carnies.