Child Abuse in the Workforce

There's a line in Spike Lee's movie "Malcolm X' that resonates in the hearts of all parents of teenagers:

"Get your hands out my pocket..."

You want your kid to get a job, and they want one too - but before you ship them off to the corner store, fast food restaurant, or local small business - heed my advice:  Watch your child's boss!

Children in the workforce are frequently (not all day every day, but certainly more than the norm) the victims of sexual harassment, wage and hour abuse, and bullying by their managers.  You aren't sending them out there to be treated like someone else's pin cushion. Children who are desperate to earn over and above their weekly allowance may find themselves in situations that are compromising and they aren't sure how to handle themselves.

My first job was working at  South Shore Day Camp - I was a camp counselor to a group of seven and eight year olds.  The senior counselors were college students and the owner had run the place for decades. I had been a camp just a few years earlier - in fact I learned how to swim there - it was a great place and I have nothing but fond memories.  After that I was at White Castle flipping burgers and workinf the register on Friday and Saturday nights.  My mother drove me to work and picked me up the next morning. I spent every weekend at one of craziest corners in the city - 79th and Stoney Island! Every nght was a new experience, but those experiences never included abuse of any kind.  I was paid weekly and I was treated the same as the rest of the gang.  Every young person's experience should be as stellar.

I suggest that you meet the managers your child will be working for and check the minimum wage rate in Illinois for your child's age and type of work to confirm that your child isn't being taken advantage of. Yes, it's true that children under 18 can now be paid less than the state minimum wage, which is about $8.25 an hour, so call the Department of Labor before you burn the place down.  It's also a good idea to stop by every once in a while, just to make sure everyone knows that the kid has a family that is involved.  That can be enough to prevent someone from trying anything. 

Make your child's first work experience a safe and happy one.