Hiring Someone to Work on Property - Liability

[Steppenwolfe]

Nope! Why would I do that? But I did talk to his mother, she also works at my school.

Just for the record... This kid is 17, does this exact kind of work for all kinds of people all over the county. He drives a truck WAY nicer than mine that he pays for himself by busting his a$$ working at the local farm store, doing hay all summer, weed eating and building fences.

Thanks for all of the PRODUCTIVE comments. Sounds like I need an umbrella policy.

No &*%$ the kid is driving a better truck; he's working for cash and not paying taxes. Kids probably gonna be President someday...

 

[plowhog]

Just for the record... This kid is 17, does this exact kind of work for all kinds of people all over the county.

If "all kinds of people" are not his teachers, I wouldn't consider it an exact comparison.

Some organizations prohibit employees from engaging in improper behavior nor the appearance of improper behavior. Unless there is precedent already established, using a student for non-school business to improve your privately owned property seems to be knocking on one of the wrong doors.

The school, or school board, might already have a policy established about teachers engaging in off-school personal or business relationships with students. What if the "enterprising young student" was an attractive underage female instead?

You may decide to continue and never encounter a problem. But it doesn't mean that risk is not there.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

If "all kinds of people" are not his teachers, I wouldn't consider it an exact comparison.

Some organizations prohibit employees from engaging in improper behavior nor the appearance of improper behavior. Unless there is precedent already established, using a student for non-school business to improve your privately owned property seems to be knocking on one of the wrong doors.

The school, or school board, might already have a policy established about teachers engaging in off-school personal or business relationships with students. What if the "enterprising young student" was an attractive underage female instead?

You may decide to continue and never encounter a problem. But it doesn't mean that risk is not there.

Dude, you are ridiculous! These kinds of comments, thoughts and sensationalization are exactly what is wrong with our society today.

 

[Diggin It]

It is exactly our society today that has caused school boards to implement such policies. In some states, there are specific laws about student/teacher contact outside of schools.

 

[MoKelly]

No &*%$ the kid is driving a better truck; he's working for cash and not paying taxes. Kids probably gonna be President someday...

Now now. You don’t know the kid and perhaps he files a return. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt. Prejudice is not good.

MoKelly

 

[Fuddy1952]

Oh for gosh sake all! Pa-leeze (as my friend says). Keep it simple!
A year ago a knock at my door, early a.m.
"Sir...is this 1234 Arrow Lane?" "Yes it is" I reply to this young kid. "Well...I just hit your mailbox swerving to miss a dog. I need to pay you for damages"!
I said in 40 years my box has been hit 10 times and you're the first to stop!
I instantly liked this kid. Then his Mom stops by, all upset. Everything is fine! Hope his car is ok!
My dad and I will stop later to fix it. I'm 16, going to high school and college but between classes I'll do it...here's my phone number and address.
I'm thinking what a great kid, smart, kind, etc. He stops by that afternoon, I had already fixed it. "You can help me paint it" so we did.
Then..."how would you like a job". "Sure would!" he replied. He lives about a mile away. So the next few months he helps me lots of projects. $10/hr he was fine with.
A fast learner. At one point an extension ladder slipped! Me...I would of broken a leg at least...but he's a kid. He just slid down then stepped off!
Point is...keep it simple! I never thought about calling my insurance agent...but the OP could. It's no big deal! Don't make it into one.
Oh...at Christmas the doorbell rings...it was the kid "Mom made a coffee cake for you guys!
Best coffee cake I've ever had, I kid you not!

 

[sunandsand]

"I'm sure you're gonna love the downtown area this Summer. Have fun"


MoKelley, I think Username Taken is referring to our downtown . . .


True, the traffic is a pain, but consider this - 25 years ago, the main drag was all vacant stores, plywood over all the windows, 90% of the businesses were closed for lack of customers. The town was DEAD, as in D.E.A.D., finished, deceased, game over.

They got a CRA (Community Redevelopment Area) approved and instead of sending the (declining) tax dollars to the county, they got to re-invest them in the community. Paid off like a jammed slot machine. The town is JUMPING, plenty to do, great restaurants, art galleries, outdoor concerts and more. The traffic is on the weekends when half of Orlando drives over to go to the beach. Yes, it makes getting around difficult, but they bring a lot of money and that results in a lot of jobs. Unfortunately, you can't have both isolation and cash flow.


Another local city was in the same predicament, vacancy rates in the business district were at 93%, again, lots of plywood, even though there is a well known university there - it just wasn't working. They made the whole town a CRA and 20 years later, the business vacancy rate is one half of one percent! You can't rent a business location for love or money, and now they are building more commercial properties.

Here's how a CRA works (warning, tune out now if you aren't interested!). The city applies to the county to establish a CRA. The county hates CRA's because it will negatively impact their tax receipts. The city applies constant pressure and eventually the county buckles.

The year the CRA is established becomes the "base line". Say property taxes are $10,000,000 this year, the county gets most of it (and does rebate some back to the city). Next year the property taxes are $10,500,000. The county only gets the $10,000,000 baseline, and the city keeps the $500,000 increase and reinvests it in the city, infrastructure (roads, water, sewer), spends it on bringing businesses to town, gives grants and loans to people to fix up business properties, etc.

Year three, property taxes are $11,000,000. County gets the same old $10,000,000 (baseline), city gets $1,000,000, spent as above.

Most CRAs here are authorized for 20 years and then expire. When property values rise fast, they are a cash cow and they REALLY make a difference. They turn a declining area into a thriving, vibrant business district, and that benefits everyone (except the county, which gets to grit their teeth because they know they are only going to get the baseline for 20 long years).

Most CRA's don't do much the first couple of years because property values rise slowly in a depressed area. However, by year 10 or so, things really take off and the difference is amazing. It requires patience, but it works and it works very well indeed.

Best Regards,

Mike/Florida

 

[Frankenkubota]

You can get sued at any time by anyone. Some people live in fear of the lawyers.

I do BECAUSE.....

I've Been there. If you have never had one of them crawl up your nether regions.....YOU HAVE NO CLUE!

But at this age, i'm gonna deal with it a little differently next time.

 

[plowhog]

Dude, you are ridiculous! These kinds of comments, thoughts and sensationalization are exactly what is wrong with our society today.

I posted earlier I may not agree with certain circumstances that exist in our society. Whether I agree or not, it does not mean those circumstances do not exist, or should be ignored.

You are the "teacher side" of a teacher/student relationship. I presume as a teacher you have influence over the student's grade and therefore level of academic success. This creates responsibilities due to: a) your position, b) influence, and, c) you are an adult and he is a minor.

You rejected someone else's suggestion to check with your employer to see if there is established policy concerning what you want to do. Doing so would seem reasonable and ethically responsible. Your resistance to checking that is surprising.

You described the boy has plenty of other work elsewhere. At age 17 he can already financially afford to drive a truck nicer than yours.

You must know many students who would be eager to work and earn money. Since potential conflicts exist by hiring someone while they are a current student, what explains the sole focus on just this one boy? Or any current student? It doesn't sound like this boy needs the money ....

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I posted earlier I may not agree with certain circumstances that exist in our society. Whether I agree or not, it does not mean those circumstances do not exist, or should be ignored.

You are the "teacher side" of a teacher/student relationship. I presume as a teacher you have influence over the student's grade and therefore level of academic success. This creates responsibilities due to: a) your position, b) influence, and, c) you are an adult and he is a minor.

You rejected someone else's suggestion to check with your employer to see if there is established policy concerning what you want to do. Doing so would seem reasonable and ethically responsible. Your resistance to checking that is surprising.

You described the boy has plenty of other work elsewhere. At age 17 he can already financially afford to drive a truck nicer than yours.

You must know many students who would be eager to work and earn money. Since potential conflicts exist by hiring someone while they are a current student, what explains the sole focus on just this one boy? It doesn't sound like he needs the money ....

You sound like one of those people who sees the worst possible outcome in all situations. I feel sorry for you.

I feel like explaining the situation further to you, but won't. Because you also sound like the kind of person who is never satisfied with an answer unless it agrees with your opinion. I feel sorry for you.

The deed is done, nothing "inappropriate" happened, no one got hurt, this kid made some money for his truck note, I still have a job, and my property looks good, all is right with the world.