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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think if they won't pay after a certain time, he shouldn't work!

60 replies

upahill · 05/05/2011 09:10

My DS has a part time job. He is nearly 15 and it is a packing job two nights a week.

He works 6pm until 10.00pm. I'm happy for him to do this but last two or shifts he has been coming in at 10.25pm. We live 1 minute from the place of work.

I said to him last night why are you late and he said that it was really busy. Fair enough. I said so are they paying you extra and he said that they weren't as they can't pay him after 10.00pm.

I then said ' so basically, they want you to work for nothing. How come? You are not a voluntary worker and over two nights you have worked for nearly an hour for free. Don't you think that is taking advantage of you?'
He said he has to stop there until all the packing is finished.

My point was then, if you are working as hard as you can and doing everything that is expected (and there are no complaints from the work place, they say he is doing alright) then they are either giving him too much or they should pay him the extra or he should go in later on the next shift.

As teenagers do he was getting a bit touchy and defensive at what he percieved as critisism.

I have said you have to learn to speak up for your self in the work place with out coming across as bolshy otherwise you will be put upon for ever!

What do people think and was I being UR to say this? Also what do you think should happen next?

OP posts:
Bananamash · 05/05/2011 09:12

Completely agree with you... but know that as a teenager, i would have done exactly as your son is!

ljgibbs · 05/05/2011 09:14

If he is still at school he shouldn't be working after 7 pm
www.direct.gov.uk/en/YoungPeople/Workandcareers/Yourrightsandresponsibilitiesatwork/DG_066272

NinkyNonker · 05/05/2011 09:14

I think the odd bit of overtime here and there, finishing off is normal isn't it? Many places don't pay unless 30 mins or more over.

If it becomes more regular then perhaps it should be addressed.

ljgibbs · 05/05/2011 09:15

Sorry ment to put his employers are taking the piss and they will probably continue to do so.

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 05/05/2011 09:16

Are they licenced to employ under 16's? I'm pretty sure they shouldn't even be employing him without one, let alone making him stay to finish unpaid. This is why work licences should be obtained for under 16's, to stop this kind of thing happening. There should be a form which they, your son, and his schoool fill in to work at his age.

Original poster
upahill · 05/05/2011 09:16

ljgibbs

I hadn't realised that.
I knew he could work and that the parents round here let there kids do the evening jobs in the local shops.
I'll now revise the situation!

OP posts:
HecateQueenOfTheNight · 05/05/2011 09:18

he has to choose what he wants to do.

this is an important life lesson for him.

is he going to stand up and say you will not take advantage of me - and take the risk of that
is he going to say nothing because he is afraid of standing up to them or afraid that if he does, he'll lose his job
is he going to say well, that's the life of work. you do end up doing unpaid overtime
is he going to leave it for now and wait and see if this is a longterm thing and then decide what to do
is he going to report them info here

Original poster
upahill · 05/05/2011 09:18

five,
He did take a form to school and school are aware of what he is doing.
His dad has dealt with this side of things.

He gets a proper wage slip with all details on such as hours worked.

OP posts:
Original poster
upahill · 05/05/2011 09:20

Despite what I've learnt about the employment law Blush I feel like I am trying to put an old head on young shoulders.
It is a very small family firm and we have known the family for 70 years (not me personally but within the family!)

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 05/05/2011 09:21

He sounds quite responsible. In the career line I am in (commodities) people work overtime for nothing.....in fact people who scarper out the door at the set time are not looked on/after as well as people who dont watch the clock.

Yes he is young and prob not working in his chosen career but good for him for being consciencess...........as long as employers dont take the mick and I cant see anything wrong in it.

ljgibbs · 05/05/2011 09:25

I think then that you better have a word with his employers and show them the government guidelines, also ask for the extra time he's put in, as time off in lieu.

OTheHugeManatee · 05/05/2011 09:40

Surely you should be congratulated on raising a son with a good work ethic even as a teenager?

diddl · 05/05/2011 09:52

Because he´s so young & likely to be getting paid crap, & there are legalities concerning employing schoolchildren, then I think more than the odd ten minutes here & there is taking advantage.

But I don´t think that it´s a bad thing to learn that you can´t always just walk out because of the time iyswim.

I wouldn´t try to make him feel bad about tbh.

gawdblimey · 05/05/2011 09:52

Surely you should be congratulated on raising a son with a good work ethic even as a teenager?

exactly, there are enough scroungers in this country, you should be pleased he is a hard worker

dreamingbohemian · 05/05/2011 10:03

I think it's pretty exploitative considering they're not having to pay him the full adult minimum wage anyway (right?) -- what would it cost them to pay for that extra half hour, a pound or two?

It's one thing to stay an extra 10-15 minutes to finish up a job, but if they're regularly keeping him late it should be addressed. It's a good opportunity for your son to learn how to stand up for himself while being diplomatic -- he doesn't have to go in and demand to be paid, it could be more along the lines of: How can we organise my time better so that I can finish all my duties on time?

FabbyChic · 05/05/2011 10:06

Legally he is not allowed to work past 10pm that is why they cannot pay him after this time.

If that was my son I would ring the Company up.

FabbyChic · 05/05/2011 10:08

Furthermore they are not insured after 10pm.

tyler80 · 05/05/2011 10:35

Half an hour extra on a 4 hour shift is taking the pee imo

howdoyoueatyours · 05/05/2011 10:38

I don't see how teaching your child to be exploited is teaching a good work ethic??? I would see it more as teaching them to be taken advantage of. Being told you can't leave until the work is done despite the fact you won't be paid and couldn't have done the work in your contracted hours is completely different to someone staying behind late to finish something through choice and, in this case, possibly illegal.
OP I wouldn't bang on about it to your son cos, as you've found, it will just lead to him being defensive. You've planted the seed now so hopefully when he's a bit more confident in his place of work and a bit more sick of having the piss taken out of him he will bring it up with his manager.

Hullygully · 05/05/2011 10:42

Why don't you or dh pop round there at 10 (say you were out for a walk/ grabbing something from a shop/ returning from X) and collect him? If they say, oh but he needs to stay and finish x, you could then chat about the situation. Rather than making it about money, point out that it is a school night and he is 14. If they still want him to stay later then that is a new and different arrangement and needs to be agreed.

TheSmallClanger · 05/05/2011 10:46

There is a line between having a work ethic, and blithely letting an employer take the piss. If this becomes a regular thing, then it needs addressing. If it was because of very high demand temporarily, or because someone was off sick, then it's not that big a deal, but regularly having half-hours added to your shift, unpaid, at 15, is taking liberties.
The fact that you've said it is a small family firm tells me all I need to know. I vowed many years ago never to work for a small family-run firm again after a nightmare job where I was routinely expected to stay behind for an hour and a half each night, mostly because my contracted hours were squandered on running errands for the directors.

BoffinMum · 05/05/2011 10:49

If I may make an observation with my professional hat on, these hours are too long for a kid of 15 IMO and are bound to interfere with his schooling, unless this is out of term time.

howdoyoueatyours · 05/05/2011 10:49

I was thinking that Hullygully but it would probably be better if the lad could build his confidence and do it himself don't you think? He's not going to have mummy to sort it out for him forever. I could imagine cringing at my mum doing something like that when I was a teenager.

Hullygully · 05/05/2011 10:50

howdo, he's only 14. My way is subtle and not obviously "doing it for him" I think.

ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 10:58

upahill Dont except that excuse by boss. Why is he working late at 14.