Kids Banned From Learning Family Business

[ScottThuy 140]

A pizzeria in Clinton is at the center of a legal battle after the Department of Labor told the owners they were in violation of state law by allowing their children to learn the family business.

Michael Nuzzo, 13; Brittany Nuzzo, 11; and Christopher Nuzzo, 8, are as passionate about pizza as their parents, Michael and Migdalia, who own and operate Grand Apizza Shoreline on East Main Street in Clinton.

The business has been in the family since the 1950s.

Brittany said, "I usually help my mom with whatever she says. I like to help."

However, after a visit earlier this month from an investigator with the state Department of Labor's Wage and Workplace division, the family was told it was violating state law.

"Somebody reported me. An anonymous report that I had child labor here. I told them they were my children and they said, 'Well they can't be here,'" Michael said.

That means the children can no longer help out. So the Nuzzos are suing the acting commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Labor. State law says its illegal to employ minors in specific occupations.

Migdalia Nuzzo said, "We're not slave drivers. We're just teaching them what we know. So when they become adults, if they go to college and they do whatever they have to do in life, and it's something they don't like, then they have something to fall back on."

Michael said, "They are attacking my tradition, my culture. Being Italian, this is how we were raised. It attacks my integrity."

The couple said they were not suing for money, just to run their business without interference.

The Department of Labor referred all comments through Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office. On Wednesday afternoon, his office released a statement and said, "There has been no enforcement action by the state Department of Labor against the owners of Grand Apizza in Clinton. My office has just received a copy of the lawsuit (Wednesday). We will carefully review the allegations and facts surrounding the case."

At the age of 14, the state said working papers can be obtained to work some hours.

http://www.wfsb.com/news/23687930/detail.html

#######? Just say no to family operated businesses? Keep the kids out of reality?

[IndigoSkies 168]

The law is blind. It doesn't care your kids are your kids. The fact of the matter is that the parents are getting free labor from children. So what it's their children? This is nearly akin to sweatshops but with air condition and mommy's love. These kinds are less than 18 years old. They cannot be trusted to make their on decisions. Either the parents do or the State does it for the parents. Kids are meant to be in school and home doing homework. Not rendering free labor to parents.

[ScottThuy 140]

They are not working full time in lieu of going to school.. they are helping out in the family business in thier spare time... a common practice in America since America was founded...

[PurpleSky 19]

Someone actually reported them?! I guess I take it for granted because this is how I was raised as well. I was raised to help in the family business. Now as an adult, I have so many additional skills that I may not have gotten otherwise. I have actually been to that pizza place and it is far from a sweatshop. The kids aren't doing anything strenuous. The most strenuous thing I've seen done was the boy taking out the trash. Occasionally they would help with putting toppings on the pizzas, wiping down tables. That's pretty much it.

It has nothing to do with forced child labor.

Edited May 28, 2010 by PurpleSky

[IndigoSkies 168]

They are not working full time in lieu of going to school.. they are helping out in the family business in thier spare time... a common practice in America since America was founded...

Yeah but the law is there that kids younger than x age cannot work more than x many hours on school days. And no more than x+y hours on no-school days. It doesn't matter where the work and for who. They just cannot work. And when it no-pay work, it's even worse. Would you send your child off to work at a factory everyday because they're just helping out for no pay?

I don't think you would. Neither should you make your kids work in your own business. If you want to teach them a skill, you can do just that. But sounds like these kids are being worked like a worker. Whoever reported them must've seen the kids work there everyday. Or was jealous.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

More nanny state bullshit.

Why don't we just hand our children over to the government the moment they are born. At this point it'd be easier as these dimwits obviously know better than the parents what's best for their kids.

If parents want their kids to work in the family business, let them. If a kid wants to work and the parents are cool with it, let them.

[ScottThuy 140]

they are getting hit with the fact that a child must be of a specific age to work... there are kids younger than that minimum age working as helpers (kids helping out), thus the issue... there is no gray area in the law toprovide for family members... A friendofmine has a great Cuban restaurant... his kids come to the restaurant after school and sit in the booth doing homework... they help out wrapping utensils in napkins and bus tables at times... this is actually against the law, but it creates a family bond that so many others miss out on in life today...

[IndigoSkies 168]

If parents want their kids to work in the family business, let them. If a kid wants to work and the parents are cool with it, let them.

In that very case, noone should ###### about child labour in poorer countries. In America, kids working is just clean family fun. But in poor countries, it's a matter of life and death for children to work. Obviously their parents want them to work so everyone can eat.

See what happpens when you selectively employ moral relativism? Surely you're not for child labour of any type. Children should be at school. If the parents cannot manage that, the State should come in an be the proper nanny. But government tend to do a terrible job at raising children. So it's best that parents raise the children within the framework of laws and regulations and labor codes. That's exactly what's happening here.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

In that very case, noone should ###### about child labour in poorer countries. In America, kids working is just clean family fun. But in poor countries, it's a matter of life and death for children to work. Obviously their parents want them to work so everyone can eat.

See what happpens when you selectively employ moral relativism? Surely you're not for child labour of any type. Children should be at school. If the parents cannot manage that, the State should come in an be the proper nanny. But government tend to do a terrible job at raising children. So it's best that parents raise the children within the framework of laws and regulations and labor codes. That's exactly what's happening here.

I don't gripe about sweat shops in Asia or wherever. Hell, I wouldn't gripe about sweat shops here.

It's amusing that in most places there is no law that says children have to go to school between certain ages, yet there's rules saying they can't work.

Personally, I say make education mandatory (be it public, private, or home school), allow kids of any age to work after school before certain hours if the parents or the child want them to, and everyone can be happy....

[Craneman 2]

The family farm is doomed.

No more chores for the kids to do.

Do not even think about havin your kid help with the yard work.

and as for doing dishes or cleaning your room.

Washing the car on Saturday is verbotten.

We are well on the way to a nanny state.

Yeah but the law is there that kids younger than x age cannot work more than x many hours on school days. And no more than x+y hours on no-school days. It doesn't matter where the work and for who. They just cannot work. And when it no-pay work, it's even worse. Would you send your child off to work at a factory everyday because they're just helping out for no pay?

I don't think you would. Neither should you make your kids work in your own business. If you want to teach them a skill, you can do just that. But sounds like these kids are being worked like a worker. Whoever reported them must've seen the kids work there everyday. Or was jealous.

[ScottThuy 140]

uh oh... by giving my son an allowance for doing chores I am not paying him the minimum wage and I dont think he has ever filed taxes on the income.... oh ####### he is only 13.. I'm a sweat shop owner and we are both gonna end up in jail.... he should not be forced to load th e dishes into the dishwasher or cut the lawn...

[Moonandstar 6]

The law is blind.

Since when was being blind a good thing?

[IndigoSkies 168]

The family farm is doomed.

No more chores for the kids to do.

Do not even think about havin your kid help with the yard work.

and as for doing dishes or cleaning your room.

Washing the car on Saturday is verbotten.

We are well on the way to a nanny state.

If children are being worked in family farm, I think the State should have a look at that. But as for doing yardwork and washing dishes, these are not business. A home is a domicile. Doing things around the house isn't considered work in the sense than one gets paid for it. Moms don't draw a salary for doing chores. Apples and oranges, my friend, apples and kiwis.

Since when was being blind a good thing?

You're trying to be cute now. And you are. So cuuuwite.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

If children are being worked in family farm, I think the State should have a look at that. But as for doing yardwork and washing dishes, these are not business. A home is a domicile. Doing things around the house isn't considered work in the sense than one gets paid for it. Moms don't draw a salary for doing chores. Apples and oranges, my friend, apples and kiwis.

You're trying to be cute now. And you are. So cuuuwite.

You're joking right?