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Original poster

If your teenage dc has a job, how long have they been there?

16 replies

AlexaShutUp · 14/04/2022 10:47

My 16yo dd has been working in her cafe job for nearly a year. Her boss is lovely and she really enjoys it, but she reckons that it's quite unusual for kids of her age to stay in a job for so long - most of her friends seem to stay in jobs for a few months at most.

Turnover in her workplace certainly seems to be very low, despite having a high number of young teenage staff. DD thinks this is because they're all happy and treated well, despite being paid minimum wage.

Just wondered what the norm is for teenage jobs and whether dd has been particularly lucky or whether her friends have just been unlucky?!

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 14/04/2022 10:53

Sometimes young people leave because they make daft mistakes (sitting on their phone/doing something inappropriate out of ignorance/showing up late or calling in sick excessively) so they're not a good fit for an employer always. What I mean is, it might not just be down to luck.
Equally, as your dd says, some employers are dire. Dd didn't last long in the chip shop with the creepy boss, for example. She didn't really need the money for bills so she could leave.

FAQs · 14/04/2022 10:53

Since Sept 21, she was treated appallingly for the first few months, she would get really upset before work knowing she would be shouted at, not given breaks, made to weed in the pouring rain, and pointless clearing leaves in a storm etc, she is still there, a new member of staff seems to be the target now, it’s certainly built up her resilience (also on £5 per hour) I guess good training in resilience and patience before teacher training degree, I’d have walked months ago.

Babyroobs · 14/04/2022 10:54

My 16 year old dd works as a cleaner at her school, so she does 3.15- 5.30 each evening and gets paid £9.50 an hour !
Two out of three of my ds's also did the same job before her.
My ds's stuck at it for years as it was so well paid compared to other jobs and I think it's been good for them to have to do things like clean toilets and pull sandwiches from plugholes!
I think my dd feels it's not very sociable, she literally just gets on with it, listening to music whilst mopping floors cleaning her own area. I think she will stay there as long as she can whilst she is in the sixth form as it is so convenient and she gets all her weekends and holidays off and earns enough to cover her for those times. There is the option sometimes to do deep cleaning in the holidays also.

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16 year olds
FAQs · 14/04/2022 10:55

Just to add I tried to encourage her to leave but she wanted to stick it out.

Original poster
AlexaShutUp · 14/04/2022 10:55

Yes, true, I appreciate that it won't always be down to the employer. Some kids just may not be ready for the commitment that work entails.

Sorry to hear that your dd had a bad experience.

OP posts:
Original poster
AlexaShutUp · 14/04/2022 10:56

@FAQs

Since Sept 21, she was treated appallingly for the first few months, she would get really upset before work knowing she would be shouted at, not given breaks, made to weed in the pouring rain, and pointless clearing leaves in a storm etc, she is still there, a new member of staff seems to be the target now, it’s certainly built up her resilience (also on £5 per hour) I guess good training in resilience and patience before teacher training degree, I’d have walked months ago.
She is obviously determined and resilient! I'm sorry that they treated her so badly!
OP posts:
QueenofLouisiana · 14/04/2022 10:57

Since November. Just as a kitchen porter, it fits in well as he just works one day at the weekend- allowing the other for studying, friends, football etc.

Original poster
AlexaShutUp · 14/04/2022 10:59

@Babyroobs

My 16 year old dd works as a cleaner at her school, so she does 3.15- 5.30 each evening and gets paid £9.50 an hour ! Two out of three of my ds's also did the same job before her. My ds's stuck at it for years as it was so well paid compared to other jobs and I think it's been good for them to have to do things like clean toilets and pull sandwiches from plugholes! I think my dd feels it's not very sociable, she literally just gets on with it, listening to music whilst mopping floors cleaning her own area. I think she will stay there as long as she can whilst she is in the sixth form as it is so convenient and she gets all her weekends and holidays off and earns enough to cover her for those times. There is the option sometimes to do deep cleaning in the holidays also.
Sounds like she is doing great. Good for her, a lot of kids wouldn't be willing to do that type of work. The pay is good for her age. DD was offered similar in a care home, but eventually decided to stick with her lower paid cafe job because she loves it so much. As a pp said, no bills to pay so she has the luxury of making that choice!Grin
OP posts:
Ted27 · 14/04/2022 10:59

my 17 year old has been in his Saturday job in a green grocers for about 18 months. Its a tiny local shop, most of the customers are regulars or neogubours, two other lads the same age work with him, they all seem to get on well with the manager.

Its only minimum wage but they don’t want blood out of a stone like his mate who works in Tescos.
It suits him for now. In September he will either give it up ( if he gets an apprenticeship and is earning a wage) or look for something better if he stays in education as he will be wanting a car by then.

ilovebagpuss · 14/04/2022 11:03

My DD started last Aug when she was 14 at a local pub as pot washer. She is waitress now and works about 2/3 shifts a week.
Our local area is crying out for hospitality workers and one pub has had to shut a couple of days a week.
So she has been there 9 months. Her bosses are nice and although there have been the odd upset between staff or snarky comment they mostly get along fine which helps.
I'm hoping she stays there through her teen years.

Bbq1 · 14/04/2022 11:07

My ds is 16 and has been working in an unpaid volunteer role since he was 14 on a Friday 4pm - 7pm.. It's something he also enjoys. He also works in a local shop connected to his passion on a Sunday 11 - official finish 4 but he often stays much later through choice. He's going to college in September so he's planning on leaving his volunteer role soon and looking for a paid job over the summer and into college.

MarshaBradyo · 14/04/2022 11:10

I was cross about this but Ds is looking again because the owner failed to pay their staff.

I found it infuriating tbh and took me back to how powerless you can be.

Grandadwasthatyou · 14/04/2022 11:12

My ds started delivering papers when he was 14 and never missed a day. As soon as he got his NI number he started to look for jobs to fit around 6th form and has worked at McDonald's for a year now. ( started when he was 17 I think).
He hated it at first but the money is good ( £7.50 an hour which will go up to £9.00 when he is 18) but enjoys it now and looks forward to the banter.
It fits well around his school hours and has taught him a lot about resilience and dealing with nasty customers.
But he still doesn't save a penny!

cptartapp · 14/04/2022 11:26

DS1 almost two and a half years. He's 19 now and picks up loads of hours when back from uni.
DS2 six months. He's 16. No sign of stopping.

cptartapp · 14/04/2022 11:28

Should say both also qualified referees. DS1 doesn't have time for this now but DS2 has been doing it and hoc for about two hours. Not surprised at £22 an hour!!

cptartapp · 14/04/2022 11:29

*two years not two hours!

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