Heard It on the Hotline: Parent Involvement in the Employment of a Minor

Q: How Should a Parent Be Involved If Hiring a Minor Employee?

A: Overall, the employment relationship is between the employee and their employer, and employers can enforce and communicate a privacy policy that limits when and if information will be shared with any family member beyond the employee. For minor employees, under the age of 18, this may become a bit more complicated. At the time an employer may be considering an offer of employment or presenting an offer of employment to an employee who is a minor, some parental involvement may be necessary. If the minor requires a work permit given their age and/or the state employment laws, the parent will need to provide authorization for the permit to be processed.

Here are some things to consider during the pre-employment and onboarding processes:

• If the organization requires pre-employment testing like drug and alcohol screening or a pre-employment physical, the parent will need to sign an authorization to allow their child to participate in the screening. The applicant should also sign the authorization for testing even though they are a minor.
• If the employee is required to sign any employment agreements, for example confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements, the parent should sign as well.
• Once the minor has started employment with the organization, they can complete the I-9 form; however, if they are unable to provide a List A, or List B and C documents, their parent can assist in the process. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides additional guidance through its website: USCIS 4.2 Minors.

Following the completion of the onboarding process and paperwork, the need for the employer to interact with the parents should be minimal. For many minor employees, this may be their first employment experience and an opportune time to set communication expectations between the employer and the employee. Employers may find it may also warrant setting expectations with the parents.