Child labor

... should kids work?

Child labor law violations have been in the news of late. In Florida, a franchisee of Rita’s Italian Ice was hit with a $15,000 fine for allowing children to work beyond the limited hours allowed by Florida law. A Chick-Fil-A in North Carolina was sanctioned for allowing teenaged workers to operate the trash compactor, a task considered “hazardous” and therefore off limits to young workers. A McDonald’s franchisee in Pittsburg paid a $57,000 fine — again, for letting minors work longer hours than the law allows. In the Southeast, several companies were cited after investigators found minors — many of them immigrants — working in factories that supply parts for automobile manufacturers.

Working is a part of life, and the younger one learns to do it the more he or she will be prepared for life. Children who work improve their executive functioning, learn customer service skills, learn how to work in teams, and gain confidence from accomplishing tasks. My first job was working for my sister and her husband at their small-town newspaper, where I stuffed the weekly papers into mailing wrappers and addressed them for delivery. I made 50 cents a week, which I promptly spent on candy. I was six years old.

International and US federal law, as well as state laws, limit the hours minors can work as well as the type of work they can do. These laws can be confusing. For example, under federal law, a 12 year-old can work at any “non-hazardous” job on a “small farm” with parental permission. Determining what is “hazardous” work and the age at which certain tasks can be performed almost requires a law degree. Hours that can be worked vary according to age and whether school is in session. At the same time, many states exempt child actors from their labor laws. For example, check out this article on “kidfluencers.”

I clearly recall at age 14 having to get a special permit from the local school board so I could work at the Dairy Lane, our hometown fast-food restaurant. I’m sure I worked more hours than the law allowed and performed tasks that (at least today) would be considered hazardous, but I learned much about what it takes to be a good employee. I also learned, under the glare of the restaurant’s owner, how to make change quickly and accurately.

If you’re thinking of giving those same learning experiences to young people you know, however, make sure you check the law!

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In other news:

• Governor Huckabee has made an excellent choice for her new Secretary of Human Services, Kristi Putnam.

• Rebecca Jones Gaston has been confirmed as the new Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families.

• Here’s a strange tale of a foster parent in Washington State who absconded with the child in her care and went to Vietnam.

• West Virginia’s legislature is considering big changes to — maybe even breaking up — its Department of Health and Human Resources. Here’s an article on some of the recommended policy changes.

• Speaking of child actors, Variety reports that two child actors from the 1968 movie “Romeo and Juliet” are suing over sexual exploitation in the film. The actors, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, were 15 and 16 at the time. The movie showed his bare buttocks and her bare breasts.