Outsourcing to Adolescents

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You may not know it, but online, you could outsource a project to a teen, and be none-the-wiser that you’re doing so! That’s because online outsourcing services don’t always display provider ages on worker profiles. And although the legal age for entering a contract at any outsourcing service is 18, kids aged 13 and up are admitted with parental permission.

This could be an issue depending on what you’re outsourcing.

Teens Not Allowed

You can not, for example, hire an 13 year old to work on an adult-oriented project since the legal age of accessing such material is 18. Nor can you hire a teen who may need to sign a 3rd party contract as part of your own project. That is, unless the 3rd party is willing to work with a minor.

Recommended Reading: Contracts: Examples & Explanations, 5th Edition

Even some data entry jobs require the “18 years or older” stamp of approval since these jobs may (1) require a background check which could be based on a credit card number, and (2) process sensitive (read, financial) data.

Online, that all-too important five year age distinction might be impossible to know and, in some cases, impossible to get. The privacy policy of outsourcing services may prevent you from getting a provider’s age. So what can you do?

Outsource Age-Appropriately

If your project requires 18+ year old veterans, make age a requirement in your contract, and hold the bidder accountable for his or her compliance. This should indemnify you from ‘wrongful hiring.’ However, forego this requirement for jobs that aren’t age dependent.

There’s no reason why a 13 year old programming genius couldn’t code your software as efficiently as a 18 or 38 year old. For non-age specific projects, your focus should be on the project’s quality, not the provider’s age.

Just so you know…

External Resources:

1. Contracts Examples & Explanations
2. Working With Contracts: What Law School Doesn’t Teach You
3. Contracts: The Essential Business Desk Reference