AIBU to suggest my child quits a zero-hours fast food job?

Are they applying anywhere at the minute? As a young adult at the moment, while the market is tough, it isn't impossible. Sending out applications is the starting point, even if it's a similar job with more hours.

And then what? Buy a car/insurance (or pay £££ to add her to OP’s insurance) on a zero hours contract where she is earning pennies per week?

Some people don’t live in the real world.

Bullshit. Being in a job that is this problematic does fuck all for “resilience”. When people talk about young people being “resilient” it is really just an excuse to subject them to really shitty working conditions. Nobody should be happy with that.

The extenuating factor seems to be that the child is so utterly miserable and dejected about the job that they are feeling suicidal.

But what happens when they work more than that one week? Will the claim stop and it’ll take 5 weeks of no money when the job offers 2 hours again?

I’d always say never quit without another job to go to unless there are extenuating factors, and there don’t seem to be here.

It’s difficult to believe that the job could have a significant impact on her mental health if she works so few hours. Surely the bigger impact must be from applying for numerous jobs and not getting anywhere, and that won’t change by quitting this job.

The travel distance would annoy me, but they chose to apply for a job in that location in the first place, and there doesn’t seem to be anything closer since they are applying for other jobs and not getting anywhere.

I’m not in the UK so don’t know anything about claiming JSA but surely they can claim something now even without quitting this job - what are you supposed to live on if working between 0 and 6 hours per week?

This.

Just quit. Don't look back. What's she missing? (a reference worth virtually nothing with the hours worked, virtually no money and mental health concerns).

Just walk away. No one in their 30s upwards would bother with this shit so why should young people?

It's shit. End of.

Time to 'create' a job, set up a cleaning company, shopping business, something people need... Clearly, fast food restaurants don't 'need' your child and treat her accordingly.

She's valued as much as a burger smooshed on the floor.

Sounds more like you’re sick of driving your kid to work - so encourage them to work hard and buy some driving lessons with their wages .
suck it up - can’t quit just because you don’t like your job ! Needs to work on their resilience and manners by the sound of it !!

You can claim JSA if you work less than 16 hours and show you are actively applying for full time work.

It’s 40 miles for the OP, as she has to go there as back when she drops her off, and there and back when she collects her.

Personally I would use it as a lesson that I wish I was taught. Not to give up, look for another job whilst maintaining your current one. If they want more hours get her to speak to management about what she can do to gain more but do t just quit because you’re not happy. People in life are in jobs they hate because there’s no other option, quitting and claiming universal credit shouldn’t even be an option and wouldn’t as they quit. They could apply for universal credit whilst they work, they would likely even support with finding another job as they want everyone to be working. Don’t teach them it’s ok to quit and claim benefits as that won’t see them through life

I bet it’s KFC

Are you for real?

You are asking if your daughter should claim JSA because she doesn’t like who she works with?!

JFC. No wonder this countries welfare budget is off the charts.

Yes, you are being unreasonable.

and edited to say… that shouldn’t stop her from quitting if things are so bad that she’s questioning her existence of course. But seriously, claiming JSA when she has a job but just doesn’t like it doesn’t seem right.

Exactly what I think too. The sooner these exploitative contracts are made illegal, the better.

There is no way on earth I’d encourage my child to put up with a shit-show like this. A large number of MNers seem to think exploitative working practices are just fine and that we should all be grateful for the scraps thrown to us by greedy corporate bosses - ignore those silly buggers and support your child to find something better ASAP.

If your child is suicidal then they need help quickly.
It is not a phrase to be used lightly.

SassyLemonFish
If she’s not getting shifts, it’s likely that management have a reason for this. Perhaps it is to do with her work ethic, general personality, attitude etc.

I doubt that, some people are just friendly with management and when skeleton staff are put on they’re prioritised!!

Can you use it as an opportunity to encourage her to better herself? "Aren't these jobs awful. How about you go to college / uni and train for better then this isn't your forever".

If your DC is genuinely feeling suicidal as a result of this job then yes, of course they should quit if they/ you can afford it. If it's a struggle to get another job could they maybe try volunteering?

Tell them to quit, 100%. This is all nonsense about references and work ethic, they are taking the piss and treating her like crap.

OP I just wanted to let you know I was stuck in a similar situation working very few hours for a fast food chain when I was 22-24. I graduated in the recession and there were no other jobs available where I was. It was soul destroying and I hated it. But things eventually got better and now I have a decent career. I think being on JSA would be more soul destroying than staying employed tbh. The low hours was because of nothing I’d done, btw, the store just didn’t have enough hours for everyone who wanted them.

If you quit your job without good reason then you can claim JSA, but you will have reduced benefits payments as they will sanction you for doing so.
They will look at the circumstances around the reason why a person leaves, the employer gets their say and they come to a decision.

Always better, if possible to get another job before jacking in the old.
The journey is 20 miles rather than 40 ? Ten miles there and back. So a nuisance yes, but given they don’t do many hours not a daily one. And if you live rurally this sort of thing will be common. Any jobs very locally at all ?

I would suggest they get registered on recruitment agencies if they are not already. The likes of Indeed etc.

Curiously enough partners and I started a business quite a few years ago, in Carnaby Street of all places, with the rather loopy idea that it should be fun to work with us, I;sold it 8 years later for a lot of money. Fun wasn't the only reason but it was very very important, "Happy hens lay more eggs.".

But I do agree with the others - don't question the manager even if she thinks she's wrong.

Omg no job is worth feeling like this!

Just tell her to quit! I've quit jobs I hated and got new ones. It's not the end of the world. She will be entitled to universal credit in any event until she finds something new