By Clay Moden,
Have you ever thought about how old you were when you first started working? Do you remember the first time you helped around the house, worked on the family farm, or pitched in at your family’s business?
Here in New York State, there is a surprisingly detailed list of jobs and tasks that minors are prohibited from doing until they turn 18. The regulations are extensive, and some of them are downright surprising. A few of those restrictions really caught my attention this weekend.
New York Has Strict Laws for Workers Under 18
We’re right in the middle of summer and celebrating America’s 250th birthday. This Fourth of July feels even more meaningful as we recognize 250 years of freedom and opportunity.
Along with those freedoms, however, come laws designed to protect people across the country and within each state. New York has thousands of laws on the books. Some are well known, while others fly completely under the radar until you happen to come across them.
Can Kids Use a Chainsaw in New York?
While I was doing some work around our property this weekend with a chainsaw, one of my sons asked if he could help. I told him he was still a little too young to operate a chainsaw, but he wasn’t convinced. In his mind, he was big enough.
He’s only six years old.
His time will come. For now, he’s pretty good at hauling brush and carrying sticks after I cut them up.
If he were officially employed in New York State, though, the law is very clear. According to state labor regulations, workers under 18 are prohibited from operating power-driven woodworking machines, including many types of power saws.
One New York Work Rule Really Stood Out
Another restriction I found especially interesting involves working as “a helper on a motor vehicle.”
“No one under the age of 18 may work or assist in any occupation: As a helper on a motor vehicle”
That made me stop and think.
How many of us grew up helping Mom or Dad work on the family car? I can still remember my dad asking me to find the right wrench while he was under the hood or crawling underneath the vehicle. More often than not, I’d hand him the wrong one and hear about it!
If I had known New York had a regulation prohibiting someone under 18 from working as a helper on a motor vehicle, I might have tried using that as an excuse.
Of course, I’m joking.
Still, it’s one of those laws that makes you pause because it’s not something most people would ever think about.
Hard Work Still Starts at Home
These are just a couple of the many labor laws that apply to workers under 18 in New York State. Some rules apply to those under 16, while others extend until a person turns 18.
For many of us, though, our work ethic started long before we ever held an official job. Whether it was helping around the house, working on the family farm, mowing lawns, or doing chores around the property, learning to work hard at a young age can pay dividends for the rest of your life.
As I reflected on America’s 250-year history this Independence Day weekend, I couldn’t help but think about how much this country has been built through hard work.
One of the greatest freedoms we have is the opportunity to build a successful life through determination, persistence, and effort. While New York has age restrictions on many types of employment to help protect young workers, there’s nothing stopping kids from learning responsibility, developing a strong work ethic, and preparing themselves for future success.
Those lessons often begin long before the first paycheck ever arrives, and they’re still some of the most valuable lessons we can teach the next generation.