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Original poster

To think that MIL is taking the piss ?

70 replies

nerfbullet · 05/08/2013 17:14

My 14 year old son has readily agreed to help his Gran/my MIL to do some grafting in her very big garden for payment. He is keen to do this since £5 pocket money doesn't go far and doesn't stretch to the odd cinema / pizza hut trip out. He found out today on his second stint, that she is giving him £2 per hour. She said I think the minimum wage is about £6 so I think that £2 is about right. Of course he didn't know what to say so politely said that's fine. Any thoughts on this, I personally think she is taking the piss! She is certainly not short of a bob or thousand ...

OP posts:
formicadinosaur · 05/08/2013 19:12

Could you just ring and casually say that 2 pounds an hour is cheeky and is there any chance she could double it?

formicadinosaur · 05/08/2013 19:13

Babysitting is 5 an hour

TimeofChange · 05/08/2013 19:16

£5 per hour is far too much for a 14 year old, who will not be working at even half the speed of a proper gardener or even have the skill of a proper gardener.

£2.50 might be fairer.

If he's paid £5.00 ph at 14, he'll be in for a shock if he gets a job at 16.

He could always get a job as a paper boy - that'll give him a shock too.

impatienttobemummy · 05/08/2013 19:16

Maybe she plans to give him more on receipt of a good job?

Offler · 05/08/2013 19:17

Crikey! I got more than £2ph when I started working part time aged 15... And that was in 1990!!!

notapizzaeater · 05/08/2013 19:18

Actually there is no minimum wage for school age kids, IIRC an apprentice rate is £2.75, perhaps suggest that .....

cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 19:19

I would wish that youngsters just mucked in but that doesn't happen these days - and maybe we should be grateful just to be able to give them an opportunity to earn for decent work.

I generally give minimum wage (related to hours worked - time in front of the computer doesn't count) plus 'family rights' eg showering, food, helping themselves to drinks etc.

ArgyMargy · 05/08/2013 19:22

Good grief! I used to get 75p an hour for babysitting in the early 80s! And that was sitting on my arse watching TV. No wonder kids are unhappy.

ChippingInHopHopHop · 05/08/2013 19:23

Bloody hell - Gran and some of you lot are as tight as a ducks bum!

I couldn't pay anyone over 12 less than £5ph - it's just not on.

cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 19:24

Argy

You have to factor in that many times, I'm having to train them in the job they're to be doing - and act as a foreman. I think the minimum wage rate is OK, myself.

ChippingInHopHopHop · 05/08/2013 19:24

I would wish that youngsters just mucked in but that doesn't happen these days

Really? That's certainly not my experience.

HildaOgden · 05/08/2013 19:24

I think she has just taught him the first rule of employment...check the terms and conditions before agreeing.

I think it does sound low,however it depends how hard he is working.If he's putting his back into it and doing his best,then I'd pay more.If he's Facebooking and scratching his arse,then 2 quid is ok Grin.

I'd be careful about approaching her over it though,I'd leave it up to her son (your dh) to bring it up with her. and hope she doesn't turn around and ask for childminding fees for keeping an eye on him 6 hours a week

Two things are certain though.He might appreciate the 5 quid 'free' money you give him a bit more,and he'll definitely be on the lookout for a better paid job next!

cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 19:26

You're lucky, Chipping.

cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 19:29

PS

The 'minimum wage' bit is generally agreed at a fiver an hour.

NobodyPutsTomArcherInTheCorner · 05/08/2013 19:31

I'm with Hermione, but I can see we're in the minority. I think he should help and accept whatever she gives him. She's his grandma (ie family). I find kids driving a driving a hard bargain financially for helping out with chores within a family rather depressing really.

Runningchick123 · 05/08/2013 19:31

You could always top it up yourself under the guise that granny is lovely but a bit out of touch.

WhoNickedMyName · 05/08/2013 19:33

I'm finding it hilarious that the MIL is being called stingy when the kid gets five pounds pocket money - now that's stingy.

OP why don't you decide what a reasonable 'going rate' is and find some jobs that your son could do for you instead.

Granny probably doesn't really need her garden doing and is doing the kid a favour.

Alternatively he could get a paper round. The going rate here is 20 quid a week, be at the shop 7 days a week for 6.30am to mark up the papers and then the round is about an hour on foot, come rain, hail or sunshine.

ModreB · 05/08/2013 19:39

Ds3 (13yo) is due to start a Saturday job when he turns 14. He will get £45 per day, which is 9am - 5pm, ie 8 hours, (with breaks of course). Works out at about £5.60 per hour.

kaosak · 05/08/2013 19:40

How about £3 per hour as I pay £5 per hour for a babysitter but they are 17yrs old and just sit and eat my biscuits all evening. He is working hard (presumably?). She is being stingy or maybe just out of touch but agree giving him too much is just as bad as he will think that is normal.

I don't think it is wrong to pay him if he is doing it regularly. I always did ironing for £1 an hour but that was 35 years ago so fairly good rate looking back! That paid for my riding lessons every week so I was very motivated to do jobs around the house and had a weekend job working in the local shop. It's good to learn about earning and wages at an early age.

Vinividivino · 05/08/2013 19:40

Perhaps your DH can have a quiet word with MIL and ask if she'd consider paying him a bonus if he does a really good job? Agree with her upfront what would constitute a 'good job' - she sounds like she could be a slippery character!

LaurieFairyCake · 05/08/2013 19:47

Is it real gardening though?

Or light weeding for half an hour followed by tea and cake with granny?

eddiemairswife · 05/08/2013 19:48

Did she ever look after him for you. If she did how much did she charge?

notapizzaeater · 05/08/2013 20:00

Modreb - the maximum a 14 yr can legally work n a Saturday is 5 hours and he will need a permit from the council. This is why a lot of employers won't take kids on anymore. If he had an accident he wouldn't be insured.

cozietoesie · 05/08/2013 20:05

notapizzaeater

I should imagine that that's why it's generous wages - either that or the shop is run by Uncle Joe.

parakeet · 05/08/2013 20:05

Only on MN would you get this ridiculous "He should be helping his poor old gran for free" sentiment.

Yes, most people would agree able-bodied teenagers have a duty to help out with basic chores in their own home. But to slave away at boring, repetitive, manual labour for their rich gran? Come on...

And for those slagging off the OP for the £5 a week allowance, I personally think it's an excellent idea to be stingy enough with teenagers' pocket money that they seek a paying job. Teaches them a whole load of important principles (self-reliance, discipline, value of money, time-keeping, etc). This goal is thwarted by an hourly rate of pay so miserly as to make them lose all motivation.

Get your DH to have a word.