Turning down neighbor’s job offer?

[Anonymous]

Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbor runs a moderately successful small bakery business out of her home. She sells her goods at craft fairs, festivals, etc. She approached me this weekend and asked if our 14yo is looking for work, because she’s looking to hire another person to run booths with her. I said I wasn’t sure the legalities and I’d have to look into where she could obtain a work permit during the summer months, etc. She cut me off and said she pays under the table, but pays really well. She said DD could easily make $200 on a Saturday. But then she started saying DD could also work at the kitchen, helping with baking and doing dishes. When she said that, alarm bells went off in my mind, but I said I’d talk to DD and DH.

Being paid under the table would make her ineligible for Worker’s Compensation in the event she’s burnt while baking, or otherwise injured while working. It’s easy money, and I think she baited and switched by presenting it as DD would be working a booth, but I get the feeling she really plans to stick her at the sink doing dishes and hopes the easy $200 cash will lure her in to stay. I don’t feel comfortable with the off the books nature of the position, and feel they will take advantage of DD, who really just only recently turned 14 and isn’t even in HS yet, hasn’t had a job.

Do I just say no, we’ve decided she’s not ready to work? And what happens when she finally gets a job? DH is close-ish with the husband.

And what is the issue with this exactly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still have an old dish washing injury I never recovered from.

I suffered a chemical burn from a similar job, when my employer refilled the dish liquid with the wrong solution. I had to have a skin graft. Of course, I was covered under the employers insurance.

I too would be curious who would cover this child’s injuries if something happened. Homeowner’s insurance? But who is paying for the ER visit? How are you getting compensated? My parents didn’t pay for anything, and didn’t have to recoup a dime. Applebee’s paid for everything.

I mean, this is the risk you take when you have a job like this, and I know it’s typical and injury is rare, but not impossible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

You should worry about how he would pay for any property he might accidentally or inadvertently damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say no. Your neighbor will move onto her next victim. She's not thinking about this as much as you are!

My daughter is 14, and no, she's not doing that sort of job. She has occasional pet-sitting and dog-walking gigs. My 19 year old son has a teaching assistant summer job and an internship. At 14 he wasn't working.

None of this needs to happen. Let your child enjoy her summer off. Goodness knows they work them hard in high school.

LMAO!

So your kids not in the 12 APs and demanding extra-curriculars crowd. Mine are. I want them to relax in the summer. I never had a job as a teen, and I'm a multimillionaire today, without family wealth. I have never understood DCUM's odd fixation of foisting work on children. If they WANT to work, fine. But if they don't, why? They'll have to spent the best decades of their lives working.

You can get into a great college without washing dishes and baking all summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say no. Your neighbor will move onto her next victim. She's not thinking about this as much as you are!

My daughter is 14, and no, she's not doing that sort of job. She has occasional pet-sitting and dog-walking gigs. My 19 year old son has a teaching assistant summer job and an internship. At 14 he wasn't working.

None of this needs to happen. Let your child enjoy her summer off. Goodness knows they work them hard in high school.

LMAO!

So your kids not in the 12 APs and demanding extra-curriculars crowd. Mine are. I want them to relax in the summer. I never had a job as a teen, and I'm a multimillionaire today, without family wealth. I have never understood DCUM's odd fixation of foisting work on children. If they WANT to work, fine. But if they don't, why? They'll have to spent the best decades of their lives working.

You can get into a great college without washing dishes and baking all summer.

Now I'm ROFLMAO!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

You should worry about how he would pay for any property he might accidentally or inadvertently damage.

Not actually worried about that either. We live over in a pretty chill neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

You should worry about how he would pay for any property he might accidentally or inadvertently damage.

Not actually worried about that either. We live over in a pretty chill neighborhood.

I’m pretty chill, too. But if your child’s subpar weed whacking skills cracked my window, I’d expect you to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

Good for you. Just tell him to keep a clean handkerchief in his pocket in case he needs to apply pressure bandage or make a tourniquet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I still have an old dish washing injury I never recovered from.

I suffered a chemical burn from a similar job, when my employer refilled the dish liquid with the wrong solution. I had to have a skin graft. Of course, I was covered under the employers insurance.

I too would be curious who would cover this child’s injuries if something happened. Homeowner’s insurance? But who is paying for the ER visit? How are you getting compensated? My parents didn’t pay for anything, and didn’t have to recoup a dime. Applebee’s paid for everything.

I mean, this is the risk you take when you have a job like this, and I know it’s typical and injury is rare, but not impossible.

Seems pretty unlikely that the woman who is baking out of her home will have industrial grade chemicals on par with commercial operations like a chain restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

You should worry about how he would pay for any property he might accidentally or inadvertently damage.

Not actually worried about that either. We live over in a pretty chill neighborhood.

I’m pretty chill, too. But if your child’s subpar weed whacking skills cracked my window, I’d expect you to pay for it.

How the hell would you crack a window weed whacking? Maybe don't let the weeds grow up there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

You should worry about how he would pay for any property he might accidentally or inadvertently damage.

Not actually worried about that either. We live over in a pretty chill neighborhood.

I’m pretty chill, too. But if your child’s subpar weed whacking skills cracked my window, I’d expect you to pay for it.

I agree with the pp. My brother grew up mowing yards/doing yard work in the summers and my dad grew up doing the same. Tons of kids do this for summer work. Sure there's a risk, but there's a risk with practically anything. I've hired a kid from time to time who's knocked on my door asking if I need any yardwork done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say no. Your neighbor will move onto her next victim. She's not thinking about this as much as you are!

My daughter is 14, and no, she's not doing that sort of job. She has occasional pet-sitting and dog-walking gigs. My 19 year old son has a teaching assistant summer job and an internship. At 14 he wasn't working.

None of this needs to happen. Let your child enjoy her summer off. Goodness knows they work them hard in high school.

LMAO!

So your kids not in the 12 APs and demanding extra-curriculars crowd. Mine are. I want them to relax in the summer. I never had a job as a teen, and I'm a multimillionaire today, without family wealth. I have never understood DCUM's odd fixation of foisting work on children. If they WANT to work, fine. But if they don't, why? They'll have to spent the best decades of their lives working.

You can get into a great college without washing dishes and baking all summer.

Now I'm ROFLMAO!

Glad we're making you happy, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy geez you’re really overthinking. My 15yo is mowing lawns, using a weed wacker and hedge trimmers this summer for neighbors (at very good under the table pay). I gave him a 2 minute demonstration on how to safely use the hedge trimmer and sent him off. It never even occurred to me that I should be worried about workers comping case he hurts himself.

You should worry about how he would pay for any property he might accidentally or inadvertently damage.

Not actually worried about that either. We live over in a pretty chill neighborhood.

I’m pretty chill, too. But if your child’s subpar weed whacking skills cracked my window, I’d expect you to pay for it.

Your child could injure someone doing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just say no. Your neighbor will move onto her next victim. She's not thinking about this as much as you are!

My daughter is 14, and no, she's not doing that sort of job. She has occasional pet-sitting and dog-walking gigs. My 19 year old son has a teaching assistant summer job and an internship. At 14 he wasn't working.

None of this needs to happen. Let your child enjoy her summer off. Goodness knows they work them hard in high school.

LMAO!

So your kids not in the 12 APs and demanding extra-curriculars crowd. Mine are. I want them to relax in the summer. I never had a job as a teen, and I'm a multimillionaire today, without family wealth. I have never understood DCUM's odd fixation of foisting work on children. If they WANT to work, fine. But if they don't, why? They'll have to spent the best decades of their lives working.

You can get into a great college without washing dishes and baking all summer.

Gold digger?