Minor forced Labor

[clay1990]

Can a minor be forced by a parent/guardian to work or volunteer?

 

[cbg]

Yes. A minor is under the care and control of his or her parents. If the parent says, work, the kid works.

 

[mightymoose]

Yes. A minor is under the care and control of his or her parents. If the parent says, work, the kid works.

No, no, no....

If the parents says "work", then the kid is SUPPOSED to work...

It is pretty difficult to really force anyone to do anything.

 

[cbg]

Let's put it this way.

If the parent says work, there is nothing in the law that the lazy minor can wave under his parent's nose that grants him the right not to work.

 

[army judge]

Let's put it this way.

If the parent says work, there is nothing in the law that the lazy minor can wave under his parent's nose that grants him the right not to work.

Does the minor have health issues that impede their ability to work?
The law limits the kinds of work a child may do.

That law varies by state, but generally prohibits minors from engaging in dangerous work, work after certain hours, or work on school days.

There are limits to what one human being can force another human being to do, and that also applies to parents.

Courts can't force convicted felons to work (yes, prisons can deny privileges and offer incentives for work), even though the 13th amendment seems to say that prisoners can be forced into involuntary servitude. Many modern day court decisions have put the kibosh on that theory.

Many, many years ago, a grizzled old sergeant summed it up best as I was about to sentence a young private. "Sir", the sergeant said, "you can't make anyone do anything, but you sure as hell can make them regret what they didn't do!" Sergeant Galligan remains almost 100% correct. I've met a few characters in my life that just don't care what is done to them.
Generally, Sergeant Galligan's, advice is accurate.

A child's major duty is to get a solid, high school education.
Work should NOT interfere with state constitutional mandates, as set forth in most state constitutions and territorial charters centuries ago!

To the OP, what is your age?
What is your gender?
What kind of work does the parent wish you to do?
What is your health?
How are your grades?

 

[Proserpina]

Nor is there (despite the early protestations of both my stepkids) anything that they can wave under a parent's nose declaring that if we make 'em do chores, it's child abuse.

(I kid you not - BOTH girls pulled this many years ago....)