AITA for not paying my kids to help out at our family business?

A small business owner requires their 10- and 12-year-old children to assist after school with basic tasks like stacking, sorting, and light cleaning. The parent views this as a natural family contribution and refuses to pay them, believing children should help without compensation.

What makes the story more complicated is that the kids recently learned friends earn minimum wage for similar work in their own family businesses. Now the children demand payment, the once-enjoyable time together has turned tense, and the parent worries about appearing stubborn while standing firm on principle. This everyday family dynamic quickly sparks debate about fairness, labor, and changing times.

‘AITA for not paying my kids to help out at our family business?’

The family runs a small business together, with the kids pitching in after school without pay.

The situation changed when the children discovered their friends earn money for similar help.

The parent feels conflicted between tradition, fairness, and avoiding a bad precedent.

This situation highlights a common tension between traditional family values and modern expectations around children’s labor and compensation. The parent sees unpaid help as teaching responsibility and family unity, a view rooted in past generations where contributing to the household or family enterprise was standard without financial reward. However, today’s environment emphasizes fairness and the value of work, especially when children observe peers being paid.

Opposing views focus on the practical reality that the children are performing genuine tasks that benefit the business financially. By refusing payment, the parent risks sending the message that their time and effort hold no monetary value simply because of the family relationship. This can breed resentment, as seen in the shift from enjoyment to reluctance. Additionally, legal concerns arise—child labor laws often restrict work for children under 14, and requiring regular help without compensation could border on exploitation, even within a family setting.

From a broader social perspective, evolving norms reflect greater awareness of children’s rights and autonomy. While family contributions like chores at home remain unpaid, tasks directly tied to a profit-making business blur the line. Paying a modest amount acknowledges the children’s sacrifice of free time and reinforces that all work deserves recognition, potentially preserving the positive bonding experience the parent originally valued.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

Many users sided firmly against the parent, stressing that work deserves payment regardless of family ties.

Some commenters offered more balanced takes, acknowledging differences in frequency while leaning toward compensation.

A couple of reactions brought sarcasm and humor to highlight the absurdity felt by many.

In the end, the parent’s refusal to pay stems from a belief in family duty, yet the community largely views the regular help as work deserving compensation, with concerns about fairness and even legality. The shift in the children’s attitude underscores how expectations can strain relationships when unaddressed.

What do you think—should children always help in a family business for free to build character, or does paying them teach better lessons about the value of work? Have you experienced something similar in your family, and how did you handle it?