Is a parent or guardian who employs his or her child exempt from labor laws?

When parents or guardians employ their minor children, they generally must meet all the child labor requirements imposed upon other employers. However, parent/guardian employers are entirely exempt from both state and federal minimum wage and overtime pay requirements.

The only parent/guardian employers who are exempt from most child labor laws are those that employ their minor children in agriculture, horticulture, viticulture or domestic labor on or in connection with premises that the parent/guardian owns, operates or controls.