It’s not uncommon for work and personal lives to be very segmented – except for the odd days when you work at home or talk to the kids on the phone in the office, it’s all usually compartmentalized. Even when you have to get some professional tasks done when you’re in your house, chances are good that you’ve got a designated work area and no one’s allowed to bother mom when she’s hard at work, right?
But, sometimes these lines can get blurry. What if the kids, no matter their age, want to help out? And what if you want to take them up on it? There are plenty of small tasks you can give the little ones – then they can feel included and even learn a thing or two. Why not set them on the path to entrepreneurship early on?
The legalities
First and foremost, you need to keep in mind that you have to abide by child labor laws. Sure, it’s not like you’re working them to the bone, but there are very particular rules about how late kids can work, when, what they can do and so on, especially if they’re lending a hand in the office. You might be staying late one night, but your son or daughter might not be able to, legally.Make sure to always stay within the regulations.
Check with your local business owners’ organization for a quick rundown on provincial and national statutes.And much like regular employees, if you decide to actually employ your older kids and give them a paycheck to teach them the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work, don’t forget to go through all of the motions of getting them on the payroll immediately.
What can you ask them to do?
Let’s say your little ones just want to help mom out wherever they can. There are plenty of little tasks they can enjoy and excel at, but that won’t potentially mess up an important meeting or project. Think of some of the things you might hate most, like:
• Putting stamps on envelopes
• Stapling papers
• Writing out addresses on memos or envelopes (this gives kids a chance to try out their penmanship)
• Finding fun pictures and GIFs for presentations
• Decorating the office before a celebration or holiday
• Brainstorming new ideas to engage clients
Also consider asking what they want to do. Of course, your options are limited based on how old the kids are, what they actually enjoy doing and what you’ve got going on at work that day, but having a little extra assistance never hurt anybody, no matter the size of the helping hand.
Sage understands one size doesn’t fit all—not every business owner defines success the same way, and there’s a right solution for every business. Whether start-up, small, or medium-sized, we adapt to their every need, at every turn of their business development. Whether they’ve been in business for 20 minutes or 20 years. Get started today: http://www.Sage.com
