I understand where you’re coming from here, but we’re experiencing a spike in homelessness across the country, driven by an affordability crisis when it comes to housing.
This does not mean the parent wanted to put the child to work. Some families literally have no choice, they already are working two jobs themselves, and don’t have enough money to get by. If rent keeps increasing but their pay doesn’t, they need to find a way to get more income to keep a roof over their head. If she’s a single mom, getting attached to a man can be a dangerous thing, and so relying on someone else can be more dangerous long-term than relying on your kids.
Also, finally, most states allow teenagers as young as 16 to work, there are just limitations to how much they can work and what kind of jobs they can do.
Let’s not blame parents who are literally struggling to keep a roof over their heads and aren’t breaking the law as it’s legal for a 16-year-old to work. Especially immigrant parents who are at a disadvantage in our justice system and at a disadvantage economically.
The thing that I’m a little shocked by is that I would assume work in a poultry plant would be considered work that’s “too dangerous” for a 16-year-old. Once again, it’s not the responsibility to the parent to be ensuring that every business their child could work for is following the law, especially when their child is old enough to work. Letting teenagers work dangerous jobs is a choice by the person who owns the business, and they absolutely have culpability in that. Far more culpability than a parent who apparently can’t just assume a business will follow OSHA rules, let alone other laws.
Isn’t the mother also partially responsible for letting her son work there?
I understand where you’re coming from here, but we’re experiencing a spike in homelessness across the country, driven by an affordability crisis when it comes to housing.
This does not mean the parent wanted to put the child to work. Some families literally have no choice, they already are working two jobs themselves, and don’t have enough money to get by. If rent keeps increasing but their pay doesn’t, they need to find a way to get more income to keep a roof over their head. If she’s a single mom, getting attached to a man can be a dangerous thing, and so relying on someone else can be more dangerous long-term than relying on your kids.
Also, finally, most states allow teenagers as young as 16 to work, there are just limitations to how much they can work and what kind of jobs they can do.
Let’s not blame parents who are literally struggling to keep a roof over their heads and aren’t breaking the law as it’s legal for a 16-year-old to work. Especially immigrant parents who are at a disadvantage in our justice system and at a disadvantage economically.
The thing that I’m a little shocked by is that I would assume work in a poultry plant would be considered work that’s “too dangerous” for a 16-year-old. Once again, it’s not the responsibility to the parent to be ensuring that every business their child could work for is following the law, especially when their child is old enough to work. Letting teenagers work dangerous jobs is a choice by the person who owns the business, and they absolutely have culpability in that. Far more culpability than a parent who apparently can’t just assume a business will follow OSHA rules, let alone other laws.