Turning down neighbor’s job offer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t this similar to babysitting, dog-walking, and lawn services?

If kitchen safety is your concern, just say she can only help at the booth (if your kid wants to)

She might get a sunburn!

[Anonymous]

I wonder why she doesn't find a high schooler? So for college recs one thing they ask you to do is provide the school counselor a resume of jobs and volunteer work. Is she allowed to list this if it's under the table or if she wants a job later in high school at a regular bakery? Are you close with the neighbor? Do you trust her not to take advantage?

Isn't there a certain amount kids can earn tax free where it doesn't matter if it's under the table or not? At that age I liked babysitting and would have enjoyed that more than doing dishes, baking, and sitting in the hot sun at a farmer's market trying to see stuff, but that's just me.

[Anonymous]

My son worked at age 13 as a junior umpire and was paid $25 a game. They could only work 23 or 24 games because once an organization pays an independent contractor over $600 they would have to report that to the IRS. If a child gets a 1099 they have to then pay taxes but on a w-2 a child can earn far more -it’s slightly above 10k and not have to pay taxes.

I would want my son taking the job you describe but necessarily because it’s under the table but it seems a bit sketchy. Just how many cakes and cookies is this lady selling that she would be able to pay up to $200 a day? That’s $25 an hour.
And notice the wording is up to $200. So is it an hourly rate? On commission depending on sales?

What state are you in? In Virginia under the cottage food law you can only sell at farmers markets or at your home. Not at fairs or festivals.

What happens if money comes up missing when your daughter is working at the booth or is robbed? What happens if the food can’t be sold for some reason or no one buys anything?

Then add to that the woman threw in there about helping in a kitchen. There is a reason there are age limits working in a kitchen. If a person is not paying taxes on a moderately successful business it seems like a strong possibility there will be an issue when it comes time for a 14 year old to get paid. Perhaps she likes using younger teens because they are easier to exploit.

[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.

What? No. The employer should pay for it.

[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.

You have way too much anxiety for this to work. Your neighbor will be happy for you to decline.

[Anonymous]

You kind of sound like a liability yourself. Are you always looking for a lawsuit? I hope our kids aren’t friends, because I would be concerned having your kid in my house or carpooling with your kid in my car.

[Anonymous]

Mention your workers comp concerns to neighbor and she will help you out by saying she already found someone else to help her.

[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.

So many red flags in the neighbor's "offer." The neighbor wants your kid to do 3 jobs for a very small amount of money. Just say no!! Don't worry about hurting the neighbor's feelings--she's nuts, and your kid could really get hurt (and will definitely be way overworked and exhausted) doing this job. Commercial baking is really hard labor, it's not at all like baking for family.

[Anonymous]

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.

Omg. This is why kids have no work ethic. $200 a day for a summer job. I’m in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

So many red flags in the neighbor's "offer." The neighbor wants your kid to do 3 jobs for a very small amount of money. Just say no!! Don't worry about hurting the neighbor's feelings--she's nuts, and your kid could really get hurt (and will definitely be way overworked and exhausted) doing this job. Commercial baking is really hard labor, it's not at all like baking for family.

Yes, because almost double minimum was is too little for OP’s princess.

[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.

Omg. This is why kids have no work ethic. $200 a day for a summer job. I’m in!

Fight me for it! Haha

[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.

Omg. This is why kids have no work ethic. $200 a day for a summer job. I’m in!

Fight me for it! Haha

I have a kid who would jump at this and she works full-time during the week. OMG, she is a camp counselor, what if a camper bites her?

[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.

Omg. This is why kids have no work ethic. $200 a day for a summer job. I’m in!

The offer was “could make” not “would make” $200, and there was no discussion on how much money she was offering per hour. It’s sounds a bit sketchy. What if barely any bakery items were sold?

And people are thinking that the 14 year old is going to have fun baking with a neighborhood mom. It’s not going tu be like that. This is a business that probably isn’t paying taxes, paying an employee under the table and it doesn’t sound like they are following all the food cottage industry rules.
There is a reason the US Department if Labor doesn’t allow 14 and 15 year olds to do the type of job the neighbor is proposing. The Child Fair Labor Act guidelines state specifically that 14 and 15 year olds:
This age group may not perform any part of the baking process, such as weighing and mixing ingredients; placing or assembling products in pans or on trays; operating ovens, including convections ovens, toaster ovens, pizza ovens, automatic feeding ovens, and microwave ovens (except those microwave ovens used for warming food as described above); removing items from ovens; placing items on cooling trays; and finishing baked products.

[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.

Omg. This is why kids have no work ethic. $200 a day for a summer job. I’m in!

The offer was “could make” not “would make” $200, and there was no discussion on how much money she was offering per hour. It’s sounds a bit sketchy. What if barely any bakery items were sold?

And people are thinking that the 14 year old is going to have fun baking with a neighborhood mom. It’s not going tu be like that. This is a business that probably isn’t paying taxes, paying an employee under the table and it doesn’t sound like they are following all the food cottage industry rules.
There is a reason the US Department if Labor doesn’t allow 14 and 15 year olds to do the type of job the neighbor is proposing. The Child Fair Labor Act guidelines state specifically that 14 and 15 year olds:
This age group may not perform any part of the baking process, such as weighing and mixing ingredients; placing or assembling products in pans or on trays; operating ovens, including convections ovens, toaster ovens, pizza ovens, automatic feeding ovens, and microwave ovens (except those microwave ovens used for warming food as described above); removing items from ovens; placing items on cooling trays; and finishing baked products.

By age 12 my DD was doing most of the things in that last paragraph - at home. Without supervision. IMO getting paid $200 under the table to do the same things in someone else’s kitchen is no different. I’d 100% let her do it.

[Anonymous]

OP: Do not allow your daughter to work for your neighbor. Your concerns are reasonable and well-founded.

FWIW I grew up among struggling families. Many of us have kitchen burn scars from having to cook our own meals at an early--very early--very, but most were got burns during their junior high school years.