Montana Parents: Would You Let Your Kid Work Here?

Wages Are Getting Better And Better In Montana

Everywhere you go, you see hiring signs at businesses with much better starting wages than as short at 4 years ago.

It does my heart some good to see people who've been marginalized and ignored all of these years are finally making a little bit more decent money.  Nobody, and I mean nobody, should have to work 3 jobs just to get by.

LOOK: Make Over $35 An Hour With No College Education In Montana

I Saw This, And It Gave Me Pause

I'm shopping at one of my favorite stores the other day, I'm putting away my cart and I caught a glimpse of this sign.

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At first glance, I was so happy to see those wages.  But then I turned around and read the sign again.

Hold on, so business are paying BY AGE now?

What Constitutes Age Discrimination?

From The Department of Labor:

"Under the ADEA it is unlawful to discriminate against any individual age 40 or older because of their age with respect to any term, condition, or privilege of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, job assignments, and training."

Check It Out: Montana Is The Top Destination For New Business.  Find Out Why

Wage Discrimination Is Fine For Someone Under 20, In Fact, It's Encouraged

From The Department of Labor:

"If you are under 20 years of age, you can be paid $4.25 per hour during your first consecutive 90 calendar days of working for an employer."

I say it's encouraged because when you put laws like this into place, it's to protect someone.  This law does not protect workers under 20, and corporations are treated like people in America.

In my eyes, this says that if a worker is under 20, they can be paid substantially less than a worker doing the same job that is over 20.  How👏 Is 👏That👏 Ok👏?

I feel it's actually exploitive. I think I'd have my child apply somewhere else.

Before you do the "teenagers aren't supporting a household" argument, riddle me 2 things: How do you know FOR SURE that teen isn't the main bread-winner in their home, and again, why is it ok to exploit a CHILD?

What do you think? I really want to know. Hit me up here