Summer often means that you want to hire students. It's tempting to call them interns and either not pay them or pay them just a stipend. Truth is, they're most likely temporary (full or part time) employees, and you must pay them at least minimum wage for the time that they work.

To really be interns, the students must be in a public or academic program and receiving credit for the internship. Typically that agency oversees the internship, which is for training students rather than providing you with labor.

Local colleges and universities usually, have great internship programs, and we encourage you to use them. But you can't have your own internship program just for hiring student labor.  Sorry, you'll have to do your own filing.

On the other hand, the minimum wage in California is $8.00 so students are still a bargain and you cane to keep idle hands and minds busy during the summer.

What do you think about hiring employees' kids? Have you had any experiences doing that? Share your successes (or failures) with us.