15 year old and work

[duckduckswan]

Does you 15 yr old have a job. How much are your 15 year olds working and what do they do? Ds has for the past 2 weeks got a job pot washing. He gets on well with the people who work there and gets £5/ hr plus tips, and it’s conveniently close. I want him to be self motivated and show willing and start saving for a car (we live rurally so that’s important). Today they have asked him to do 4 shifts before he returns to school the following week. He’s getting angry and upset because I disagreed with him and said that he can’t just leave them in the lurch and say no to 3 of these shifts. His argument is that his friends don’t have jobs

It's pretty much impossible round here to get a job before you're 16, so I don't know any 15 year olds with jobs.

I can see if your DS is the only one of his friends working it's hard for him to give up so much of his free time - 4 extra shifts in a week is a lot.

I also disagree that not wanting to take on all the extra shifts that have just been offered is "leaving them in the lurch". Standing up for yourself and what you want are also good things for a teenager to learn

Good point about the standing up for himself and I’m ever so proud (and told him so) that he went and got the job and they think enough of him to offer the shifts. I did say that he should perhaps ask to drop 2 of them, offer to do the bank holiday Monday where they will be at their busiest.

I did pot washing and then kitchen work from age 15. My A levels suffered badly because of being asked to do extra shifts and me accepting all the time. My DS is studying this week before going back next week so perhaps your son wants to do school work?,

Even if not. I wish my parents had supported me more not to work as much as I did because it did affect my schoolwork.

he can definitely say no if he's on a zero-hours contract.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9. Thank you I definitely will have that in mind (especially after this last 18months)

I don't really understand the encouraging him to save for a car. It isn't his fault you live rurally is it? He is still a child and whilst it is great that he works I think 4 shifts before school starts is too much

@NoKnit our thinking is that it’s to develop a sense of understanding that not everything just gets given to you. You could exchange car with his phone, gym membership, clothes that he likes which are designer and pricey. We both worked at that age, so are probably slanted towards thinking that’s normal

DS had a job at 15 - working in a bread shop/cafe. The owners were completely hands-off - sometimes he had to close up, clean and cash up all by himself, which was a huge responsibility. I can't remember how much he earned, probably around £5 per hour. He did bring home huge amounts of out-of-date bread and cakes and the end of his shift, which was a bonus.....

Very few people will take on 15yo workers, though. DD1 worked at Costa, but not until she turned 16. DD2 is waitressing in a pub.

It's a great idea to get them used to a work ethic, and the thrill of making their own money, but at that age, it has to be their choice. And there are laws dictating how many hours a 15yo can work. I would not have allowed DS to do anything to impact on his school work.

We give all of ours pocket money, but they have definitely enjoyed the better spending power that goes with having a part time job.

My 15 year old puts out/brings back bins/recycling for holiday homes in the village. He helps out in the kitchen at his sister's coffee shop when she is short handed. He also gets irregular/school holiday days labouring for a landscape gardener - £100/day! He beat my husband to the job

I think it's great that you are encouraging to take on a part-time job. My siblings and I were all actively encouraged to get a part-time job at 16, my siblings was actually 13 when they helped out a family friend's business. Aside from the fact we came from a working class background and so had no choice but to work to have pocket money I think it also gave us great work ethos and respect for money. We all saved up to buy our first cars.

We are all now really independent, all own our own properties and have good careers. We have never had hand-outs from our parents. My parent's friends did the opposite, spoilt their children with cars and money and they now have adult children still living at home with them with debt racked up and no sense of drive or ambition. Whenever their lives fell apart the bank of mummy and daddy stepped in and their help was never gratefully appreciated. Because they were spoilt!

Please ignore the posters on here appalled that your son is saving up for a car. He will have a lot more respect and appreciation for it and also will carry this ethos forward in life.

Ds2 is 15 and has a job at a tuition centre near us. He’s very lucky, a few of his friends have paper rounds, that’s about it. He can pick up extra shifts but generally doesn’t. I leave that up to him - as a PP has said, I don’t want it to interfere with school work.

I wouldn’t let my 15 yo get a job. He is a child who should only be focused on school.
He’s not leaving them in the lurch, he doesn’t owe them anything.

I don't have any concerns about my 15 year old having a job - it's far better than him sitting at home on a computer for hours and it improves his social skills particularly dealing with adults. I see a lot of students who are very uncomfortable speaking to adults. They need to develop networking skills asap.

Young people - even those in GCSE and A levels years and on most university courses have plenty of spare time for hobbies and/or work. And I say that as a university Professor with three adult children who have graduated and all worked throughout - it gave them a sense of self worth, self reliance and confidence and for at least one was instrumental in her getting a very good job straight after graduating because of her impressive CV. She would not have got that with just a degree and no experience of responsible work.

Great he got the job. For the return to school you need to balance out school/study/exercise/hobbies/downtime & socialising/work in that order.