Some of our employees would like their high school kids to work in our office this summer to gain experience. Do we have to pay them?

First, before anyone under 18 works for a company (with limited exceptions), he/she must obtain a work permit. These permits are required year-round; there is no exception for casual summer employment. The permits may be obtained from the local superintendent of each school district, and must be kept on file at the company.

Second, minors are entitled to minimum wage in most cases. Both state and federal law allow employers to pay subminimum rates, but the two bodies of law differ, and it is wise to seek legal counsel before paying the lower “learners” rate, which is only for a limited time in any case.

Review Restrictions

Other restrictions apply to minors. The Department of Industrial Relations's Child Labor Laws Summary Chart explains child labor law requirements and restrictions categorized by age.. If a company is going to employ minors, it is wise to review these restrictions, which vary from 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds.

People often wish to work to gain experience and knowledge in certain fields, but there are limited circumstances when they do not have to be paid. Most people perform services as an employee or as an independent contractor, and are paid accordingly. Minors working in an office as noted above, however, fall into the category of "employee" status.

Other Worker Categories

Two other main categories of workers are as follows:

• Volunteer: When an individual is performing services for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives, not as an employee and without expecting pay.
• Intern: A seven-part “primary beneficiary test” looks at the economic reality of the intern-employer relationship to determine which party is the primary beneficiary — the employer or the individual. An unpaid internship can exist only where the individual is the primary beneficiary. See Interns in the HR Library

If a company is going to hire people/minors for the summer, it is advisable to seek legal counsel in order to ensure all legal requirements are met.