Which would be fairest when employing teenagers?

[hidinginthenightgarden]

We are opening a weekend only venture which is set on a school premises. As part of the deal with the school we have agreed to hire their sixth formers as paid staff.
Plenty have applied and interviews are this weekend. Over a weekend we only actually need about 12-14 members of staff. During school holidays we will need a bank of extras. About 24 have applied.
Some people have stated they only want school holidays which helps. Most have stated they want 8 hours shifts. Also fine.
Assuming none of them are completley useless and they all turn up, I am currently debating which is fairer to the students.
Either, we employ the "best" of the staff for weekends and offer the rest the opportunity to be cover staff and school holidays, or offer them all the job but let them know they will only have shifts 3 out of 4 weekends a month plus extra during the holidays?
What would you do?

I would not be considering which is fair but which is effective.

You're running a business, not a charity.

The option of offering them all the job and let them know shifts are only 3 out of 4 weekends seems sensible...mainly because teenagers are not the most reliable of creatures and that spare weekend will likely be appreciated by them for shopping and days out with their mates.

Plus it gives leeway for some of them to swap shifts...and if one doesn't turn up on their weekend for whatever reason, you can call one of the ones who has that weekend off to come in on short notice.

My reasoning is similar for that option. The only reason I am considering "fairness" is that we need the staff in the holidays and don't want them all to turn around and say they won't do one or the other leaving us with no holiday staff.

I have a teen and all her mates work in the hols. I can't see it being a problem...but you should let them know that getting a job during term time is dependent on them being available for the holidays too...obviously they can go away with their family if they want to.

Out of interest, what's the activity if you don't mind sharing? I'm in Oz, I promise I won't steal your idea!

I would not be considering which is fair but which is effective

Yup.

Plus even the most committed employees now may find that actually they can't sustain their studies alongside the hours they're working for you and want to reduce their commitment or leave. Those who are keen to cover holidays now may have other plans by the time it comes to it. Those who didn't want to work the holidays may have changed their mind by then.

What happens if none of them want to work during exam periods of you are totally reliant on a student workforce ?

I would be wary of being too rigid and build in flexibility in your resourcing so you can adapt. People are unpredictable.

Its an inflatable theme park. :)

User we have given them loads of options and are trying to be as flexible as possible for that very reason. Its why we want a higher number of staff so they only get asked to do 2 extra shifts during holidays max. They have been told that the maximum hours they can do term time is 8 hours a weekend and that they can do those over one or two days.
This is because they have to prioritse their studies and I met with them all during their assembly and told them this.

Ooh! I bet your insurance is a lot! No wonder you need so many staff!
Sure to be popular!

Insurance was much lower than we thought. We are expecting it to be busy though during the holidays so yes. Many staff needed!