Entry bubble The Certainty of Change

By: Nancy | January 22, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

If there's one thing you can count on in life, it's change.green traffic light

New job. New address. New Neighbors. A new baby.

The country is buzzing with change right now and Gov Gab headquarters is busy creating its own changes too. We're working on new ways like our Facebook page and Twitter feeds to get you the information you're looking for from and about the government.

Change is even happening with me. When my boss Mary retired last month, I inherited some new things around the office that I'm pretty excited about doing, in addition to the public service announcements that I've been producing for the last 18 years.

What I'm finding though, is that sometimes you have to set something down, even if it means a lot to you, so you'll have the free hands to grasp and embrace the new thing. And that's what I have to do today, as I write my last regular Gov Gab entry.

I'm grateful that Gov Gab's parent agency, the General Services Administration has supported Gov Gab since its start as one of the federal government's first blogs. And I'm even more grateful to have been able to exchange ideas, laughs and stories with you every Thursday.

Watch out for bats, and if you see George Clooney, please tell him hello for me.  :)

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: address   baby   change   jobs   nancy  

 

Entry bubble Summer Jobs for Kids

By: Nicole | May 16, 2008 | Category: General

Backyard FootballHere in D.C. it’s 75 degrees and sunny, which can mean just one thing. Soon, it will be 90 degrees and so humid I’ll need SCUBA equipment to breathe. I might not be thrilled by this prospect, but the kids in my life can’t wait. Summer for them means trips to the beach, lazy days playing pick-up football, and extended bedtimes. In another year or two, it might also mean a summer job, possibly a government job.

So, for those of you who have kids 13 and older, I've gathered together some helpful resources. The U.S. Department of Labor provides specific information for parents about the rules governing youth labor. For example, there are special rules regarding the minimum wage for young workers. There are also time restrictions. Generally, kids 14-15 can work a full 40 hour-week during non-school weeks, but only 18 hours during a school week. There are no federal time restrictions for kids over the age of 16, but you should check your state laws because some provide stricter guidelines. There are different rules for kids whose parents own their own business or farm.

Even if your kids aren’t quite old enough to have a summer job, they can begin investigating careers. Using the Web, you can find information about which industries are growing, as well as match students’ interests with possible career options.

VolunteerAnother terrific idea for kids during the summer is volunteer work, which can provide new skills and foster a sense of civic involvement. In addition, colleges are often impressed by applicants who volunteer their time to help others. Many government agencies have volunteer opportunities.

Do you have any creative ideas for great summer jobs?

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: career   jobs   kids   labor   school   seasonal   students   summer   teens   vocation   volunteer   youth