To call my daughter’s manager

[Bunnyfuller]

DD is 16 and is doing her first part time job, working as a Barista at a chain coffee shop. She was given her contracts to sign a few weeks ago, and given an employee handbook. In it it says pay should go up once ‘customer trained’ and again when barista trained. She’s definitely completed the assessments for both of these, and when she asked the shop manager about the rise as laid out in the handbook, the manager said ‘oh, I think that’s wrong, that book is from last year’.

Nothing since. I’ve said to DD to ask for the most current handbook, but immediately got bellowed at for hassling. She just says she’ll quit if her pay doesn’t go up.

I’d like to get to the bottom of it. Would it be very bad of me to call the manager and ask for clarification? There seems to be quite widespread exploitation of these kids starting out, her friend got similarly underpaid by a chain garden centre, and she just quit.

YABU - don’t call, if your daughter accepts it, or quits, it’s her choice

YANBU - a quiet request for the current handbook will let the manager know you’re onto her

Assertiveness and confidence are skills; that means they can (and should) be taught and learnt.

They’re not personality traits like funny or quiet that are pretty much set.

Minimum wage for 16 year olds is around £4.65. Is she on that? If less then that’s not right.

Not quite.

It’s not “right” if it’s infringing the minimum wage AND employment contract

I think the fact she has never received a payslip is rather dodgy - I wonder if she is actually an 'official' employee. How does she get paid?

Sorry to keep coming back and stirring the hornet's nest - you were very brave putting this on AIBU 😁

How has she been paid? Cash or bank transfer? Should have had payslips so if it’s cash I wonder if she’s ‘off books’ which isn’t right.

So it’s been a learning process for both of us. 😊. DD has found her online wage slips, and she wanted me to ask head office was there a set wage for 16 yr olds. There is, and she’s on it. So we’ve wheedled the ambiguity down to money going up after full training and assessment.

I will be honest, I think this minimum wage for 16 yr olds is shit. Imagine if we said ‘yes, you’re over 50 so we can pay you a lower rate’. It should be dependent on what you can do in role.

DD is going to pursue the raise following training next time she works with the boss, and is applying for other jobs.. The manager is horrible anyway, nearly had DD in tears last weekend. None of the staff like her and customers even comments sometimes on how she treats the staff. What are we teaching them?

@Bunnyfuller there are plenty of higher paid jobs around. Employers are desperate to fill them. My 16yo son earns £12 an hour as a lifeguard.

I agree. DS gets £9.50 an hour at 16 (first job) at a well known chain and McDonald’s were offering £8 an hour

she should find another job and leave this one - plenty of better paid jobs

McDonald’s is £8.25 now my 16 yr old gets that.

Every McDonalds is different.

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal for them to discuss the employment of another adult with you..

Yes I know some are franchises. I was just meaning Ops daughter can probably do better than £4.65 or whatever minimum is for 16 in this market.

Could this handbook be online ?

This

Support your daughter to chase this up herself. I remember my mum ringing my manager about something when I was in my first job and feeling like the laughing stock of the company and it felt like I'd gone complaining to her instead of acting professionally and following it up myself. Give her the instructions and encouragement but she needs to learn these skills herself.

This is the time to coach her into standing up for herself. At a time where the stakes are low, and she has a roof over her head. Where she can say 'screw your job then' and walk out with little personal consequence and get another job, knowing she doesn't have bills to pay.

This is a great opportunity for her. Encourage her to speak up, send the email to HR, professionally confront her manage.

Don't take that opportunity away from her by doing it for her.

I understand why you would want to but really you should be pleased - this is a great life lesson that she can walk away with far more confidence in herself. If you do it for her, the underlying message is 'you aren't able to'. Even if she's grateful to you for making the call. You should be saying - I know you can do this, you go in there and tell them what's what and I will be there no matter what.

If she botches the conversation up, even then she learns.

I'd be doing role plays over dinner on what she could say (I'd be making it funny to avoid the cringe of role plays).

If it all goes wrong and she gets fired or leaves - then you can go in there and give this manager a public dressing down to satisfy your maternal inner lion! ;-)

I have said I will be supporting her doing what she wishes several times now. I appreciate the advice, but please RTFT!