Turning down neighbor’s job offer?

[Anonymous]

If you are concerned about the oven, why don't you tell her Larla can help out at the craft fairs but you are concerned about her working with the oven due to her age.

My guess is she will still be hired.

[Anonymous]

Tell the owner that your daughter can only work at the craft fairs/festivals helping out.

She is not old enough to work at the bakery or washing dishes.

[Anonymous]

You are overthinking this by a lot, but honestly your anxiety makes me think it's a bad fit anyway.

Just say "Sorry, Larla is busy with schoolwork and activities" and move on. Some other teen will take this easy money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

There is a chronic problem in your family where you all have burns from making yourself eggs in middle school?

[Anonymous]

I’m dying, next time someone suggests baking as a fun activity that moms can do with their kids, I’m going to swoop in and screech about burns, homeowners insurance, and disability. And heaven forbid anyone suggest that a kid wash the dinner dishes or man a Girl Scout cookie booth—I’ll report you to CPS.

[Anonymous]

There are so many people posting here who have never worked in the food service industry or had to cook for your younger siblings out of necessity on a regular basis because your parents were out working.

Baking cookies or a bread at home is one thing. It is completely different when you are doing a repetitive baking task with most likely two oven going and potentially also burners going.

My 15 year old son can use our oven, makes simple meals on the stove, can make a cake mix, etc. No way would I want him working in a kitchen for a job that involved repeatedly using an oven for a job or washing dishes. It’s a boring job after a while do you are thinking about something else while doing a different task , the timer goes off to get something out of the oven and in a rush it is so easy to get burned if you are doing that repeatedly.

Even if you aren’t reaching into an oven if you make a mistake putting in ingredients these are huge batches, so the neighbor is going to be really upset if the mix or dough gets ruined. This isn’t like making cookies for a bake sale, this is someone cooking for festivals, craft shows, farmers markets, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine for you just to say no, OP. But I don't think it's fair to interpret this as her taking advantage of your child. It's an opportunity, but one that you or your DD do not want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP’s DD is a high schooler now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's fine for you just to say no, OP. But I don't think it's fair to interpret this as her taking advantage of your child. It's an opportunity, but one that you or your DD do not want.

+1

Just yesterday my 12 yo daughter said she wanted to work at a bakery. So while it would be a great opportunity for my daughter, it might not be one for yours. But that does not mean your neighbor is taking advantage.

[Anonymous]

You’re worried about workers comp?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+100

I'm surprised you're the first person who pointed this out. We don't know the neighbor and OP likely has her reasons for being concerned. The switch from "working the booth" to "helping in the kitchen [and doing the tasks that the neighbor doesn't want to do herself]" makes me think the neighbor is looking for a sucker who doesn't know better, hence she's asking about OP's daughter.

[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)

Personally, I’d be fine with my kid working the booth for cash and think that is comparable to babysitting or dog walking.

But working in a commercial kitchen, or worse, a home kitchen making a large volume of items, where safety standards may or may not followed, would be a no for me.

[Anonymous]

2 sisters left Wall Street and started a million dollar cupcakery. Let her take the job if she wants it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

+100

I'm surprised you're the first person who pointed this out. We don't know the neighbor and OP likely has her reasons for being concerned. The switch from "working the booth" to "helping in the kitchen [and doing the tasks that the neighbor doesn't want to do herself]" makes me think the neighbor is looking for a sucker who doesn't know better, hence she's asking about OP's daughter.

Anyone looking to "exploit" someone isn't going to pick the child of a neighbor who is clearly a very high maintenance UMC woman and mention $200/day. Unless you think this neighbor hates the OP and wants to sabotage their relationship and that's the motive. Come on.

[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.

AP overachievers are not idle all summer. They play travel sports, academic camps, jobs, etc. If your AP kid is idle every summer they’d fall behind and miss out on a lot.