To ask whether I should pay these teenagers?

[Puzzledandpissedoff]

One for the Mumsnet jury - I'd very much welcome others' input before deciding

Yesterday I hosted a large garden party and had three 17 year olds to help with serving; everything was prepared, so all this involved was pouring and handing round food and drinks and helping to clear up. The party lasted three hours and I'd offered them £40 each

Unfortunately all three spent practically every moment playing with their phones, leaving me - with the help of two very kind invited friends - to do most of it myself. All reminders were met with "yeah, in a minute", "I'm just ..." and so on, but no actual help

Once the last guest left they refused to do any clearing up; apparently all three had something "really urgent" they had to leave for, but were quick to demand their money. I explained very calmly that I'd have to think about it since they'd done so little, to be met with a chorus of "yeah buts ..." and "it's not faaaiiirrr", followed by numerous texts today asking for their money

So what does everyone think, please ... should I pay?

Where did you find the 17 year olds?

Will they shell your house with eggs or will their parents bang on your door if you don't pay them?

Sounds like £10 each is most you should pay.

I had a 15yo help with a party a few yrs ago, she was great!

Absolutely no way. Entitled little turds.

Pay them for what? For them sitting around not doing the job they were being paid to do? I wouldn’t give them anything.

Two are the daughters of a member of a group I belong to and the third is the daughter of a friend

Nope, I wouldn't pay them at all.

Who are they to you? Family? Friends kids? Neighbours?

Did you tell them at the time to put their phones away and get on with it?

Yes, you should pay. You don't have to hire them again but you didn't tell them to leave at the time because they weren't working hard enough so they technically did their shift (even if it wasn't up to scratch). Sorry they were rubbish though.

X post. I'd speak to their parents in that case, and probably explain I was only going to offer equivalent of minimum wage and even then, grudgingly.

Where their parents there? Do they know how little work the teens did?

I would give a token amount. £15 each perhaps - and state that the main reason you had wanted them was to clean up afterwards - but that none of them was prepared to do it. £4.20 is the minimum wage for 17 yo per hour - and you've kindly given them a fiver an hour each for the (lack of) work they did for the 3 hour party.

I think it depends on several things ..

How do you know these 3 17 year olds? Your triplets? A child and 2 friends? Neighbours' children?

Did you agree anything in writing with regards to duties?

Were the helpers reminded of their duties and what has been agreed? Was their behaviour challenged?

On the face of it, I'd give them £20 each (as they were actually present and so giving up time), tell them they're lucky it's not nothing and that they won't be asked again or given references.

Tell them that, once they’re working at McDonalds next year, they won’t be able to pick and choose whether they do any actual work - and they can’t with you either.

Speak to their parents?

I’d want to know if my child had taken on a job, refused to/did it badly seemingly on purpose. If it were my child I wouldn’t expect them the be paid at all.

No, I wouldn’t pay. If I asked a window cleaner to do my windows and he just sort of rubbed a cloth over one window, I wouldn’t pay him.

I wouldn’t pay them, they didn’t do the job. 17 is old enough to understand the concept that when you’re hired to do a job, you have to actually do the job.

Id talk to their parents first and explain. Yanbu to not pay but if you do never ever book them again

Definitely speak to the parents

I’d offer £20 each and tell them because of their poor work ethic they weren’t worth the full amount.

They can like it or lump it.

You should have told them to leave as they were not helping.
Give them nothing if they did nothing.
If they did something, give them a proportion.

Did you agree anything in writing with regards to duties?

It’s a bit of casual waitressing 🙄

(Id have also told them about their phone at the time)

You'd said they'd need to help clear up, and they didn't, so they haven't earned the full fee. However, they did give up their time, even though they were rubbish helpers. It sounds like they really don't know what work involves! Maybe in hindsight it would have been good to say during the party, "right, phones away - I offered to pay you to help, not to go on Instagram. If you don't do the job, I won't pay you. " But regardless, they were taking the mickey and need to know they can't do that at work. I'd offer to pay them half, and explain why. You would not be doing them any favours to pay them and let this go, as this is a lesson they could benefit from learning.
The tricky bit is, it depends how you get on with their parents and whether you foresee any trouble there. Would taking a "firm but fair" line cause trouble for you? Do you know their parents well enough to be able to explain?