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Hoots : Do I actually have to pay my daughter minimum wage for helping around the house? I blogged about my discussion to this question. When I mentioned that I paid my almost-six-year-old daughter for a job that took an hour - freshhoot.com

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Do I actually have to pay my daughter minimum wage for helping around the house?
I blogged about my discussion to this question.

When I mentioned that I paid my almost-six-year-old daughter for a job that took an hour I had a commenter say that I paid her "below minimum." (The commenter smells like a troll but it still has me a bit worried.)

I'm almost positive that this is a mis-application of minimum wage law because (a) it's not a business, it's normal family activities; (b) she's not my employee but my daughter; (c) I'm not her employer but her father.

Does anyone know the basis of why I shouldn't be compelled to pay my daughter minimum wage for work that's more or less normal family upkeep work?

Thanks!

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mbhunter,

Here's the portal for US Dept of Labor child employment laws:
www.dol.gov/dol/topic/youthlabor/employmentparents.htm
Note the first two paras:

"The Fair Labor Standards Act's (FLSA)
minimum age requirements do not apply
to minors employed by their parents,
or by a person acting as their
guardian. An exception to this occurs
in mining, manufacturing and
occupations where the minimum age
requirement of 18 years old applies.

State laws often follow the same
pattern as the Fair Labor Standards
Act with regard to minors working for
their parents. Consult your state
department of labor for specific
guidance."

So it looks like there is no legal compulsion; unless you are having your daughter bore engine cylinders or set explosives at the backyard silver mine.

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