Basic Business Cents
Listening to conversations
around the community, many challenges facing small communities are revealed. Some
of these lamentations are:
·
Local youth do not have anything to do
·
Young people can’t find work in this area
·
There are help-wanted posters all over town
·
Youth don’t know how to work
·
Youth do not stay in this community after
schooling
According to Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for the
US Armed Forces, 70% (yes, seventy percent) of today’s youth cannot qualify
to join the military. The major reasons are:
o
Obesity
o
Didn’t finish high school
o
Criminal record
Years ago, many youth enlisted
in order to get a job and learn a trade or were given a choice of jail or
enlistment by a judge for some youthful indiscretion.
Sports, music, and other school
and church activities partially fill this void for some, but not for all. There is a simple solution to these
problems today for many of our youth, GET A JOB! A part-time job that is; it
should not delay or deter anyone from finishing their degree work. In fact,
local high schools cater to those students who wish to
participate in the work force and complete their education. The degree is
tremendously important today with the complexity we face in any job. The lack
of it will forever haunt and hold back any youth that quits before graduation.
This subject brings up the
concern of labor laws. A Guide to
Starting a Business in Minnesota published by the Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic Development clarifies this subject.
·
A minor under 14 may not be employed, except:
o
If at least 11 years old, as a newspaper carrier
o
If at least 12 years old, in agricultural
operations with parent’s or guardian’s permission
o
As an actor or model with approval from the
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
o
As an assistant soccer referee
·
A minor under 16 may not work:
o
Before 7:00 am or after 9:00 pm, except as a
newspaper carrier
o
More than 40 hours a week or eight hours in a
24-hour period except in an agricultural operation
o
On school days during school hours, unless an
Employment Certificate is issued by the appropriate school officials and kept
on file by the employer
·
Sixteen and 17-year-old high school students may
not work:
o
After 11:00 pm on evenings before school days
(11:30 pm with written permission of a parent or guardian) or
o
Before 5:00 am on school days (4:30 am with
written permission of parent or guardian)
Ideas without action are
worthless. It appears that a matchmaker or focal point is needed to match youth
who want a part time job with employers who want to help. Local high schools
might be in the best position to be this matchmaker or clearinghouse. The youth
need someone to talk to about their desires and have a two-way discussion with
someone who has knowledge of opportunities.
The employers in the community
need to create these opportunities as a part of their civic responsibility in
addition to increasing their workforce. The parents need to counsel their
children on the opportunities and benefits of part-time jobs.
Benefits, in addition to
addressing the lamentations listed above, are numerous to all concerned.
The community benefits by
adding to the work force energetic, willing-to-learn employees who might be
more tempted to stay in the community after finishing their education. The
employers gain by obtaining additional workforce at fairly low cost who might
become full-time employees after completion of their education. The youth gain
by obtaining fulfilling use of their time, exercise, income to aid their
families or save for future needs, learn jobs that they do, or do not, like,
and experience higher self-esteem.
That sounds like a win-win-win
solution to complaints heard on the streets.
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