Teenager and first job

[HowmuchcanispendatChristmas]

So my 14 year old has their first job in a salon. Simple tasks ie making drinks and sweeping etc. Three Saturdays a month for about £120. They love the idea of the money but says it’s boring and got very upset about going in today. I’ve said this is the real world we don’t all like all aspects of our job. I know come next Saturday we will have a repeat of today tears etc about going in.
Now ainbu to say suck it up think of the money you can spend on your social life . If you don’t go don’t ask me to fund it for you . ( she begged me to help get her a job)

or Aibu and shouldn’t force her in .
Thanks

Is it just boring or is there another issue? I'd say for any job you have to give it a chance, things can be awkward at first when you are learning the ropes and don't know anyone. Giving up after one day would be a wasted opportunity. Encourage her to carry on for at least another 3 Saturdays and re-assess after that. Chances are she'll get into it but if not then at least it will hopefully encourage her to work hard at school to get a less boring job!

If she really hates it that much after a few goes I would wonder if someone is being unkind or there's another problem...surely you wouldn't cry because it's a bit dull?

Thanks for your reply. No other issue. She’s very teenage like ie glued to her phone (anti social)in her room or likes going shopping with her friends.

I have to say, I loved my teen job- pot washer at the pub 😁

Maybe this job just isn't the right fit? But if she finds another and still hates it, then maybe she just needs to grow up a bit.

I don't think it's even legal at 14.

This is what I think . She does like a moan and I think she’d moan at whatever she did. I did say I’d ask in the fish and chip shop in the village and buy her a bulk lot of shampoo and shower gel as she’d stink of fried food all the time. She was desperate to start the job at the salon . If she dies t want to do it I guess that’s up to her but I’m not going to fund her social life while she lies in her pit/ bedroom 😂

If she comes back still unhappy, and has been paid. I would tell her to phone the salon and let them know she is not going back. Perhaps she could do some babysitting ( not sure if age restrictions, or watering plants for holidaying neighbours. Or feeding cats. Not sure of age to work in a coffee bar etc

Yes it is so long as the hours don’t exceed the legal amount

I would tell her to find another job before she puts her notice in, that's the responsible and mature way to handle it.
She needs to realise how luck she is to get a job and that her reputation as a worker has started, she needs to keep that in mind for the future.

She’ll get paid the end of the month so I’m hoping that will soften it !

Great advice . Thank you

14 is very young for a job.

It's certainly too young to insist she stays in the job.

If she's found something she loves doing and gets some pocket money for doing it, that's fine. Far, far too young to have any compulsion or expectations on her to work.

She's 14. That's extremely young to commit to a job that she doesn't even like. Yes suggest she sticks it out and definitely follow through with not paying for things as you've said, for a little while at least, but if she hates it so much that she's in tears then maybe it's not right for her.

Thank you for your input . Obviously I don’t want to force her to do something but I do want her to give it a good try before she gives up

I wouldn’t insist she stays but I’d suggest she gives it a few more weeks.

Fourteen is too young to be in a job that makes you unhappy and I certainly wouldn’t be making her stay there if she isn’t happy. Don’t actually think it’s legal either to be working at this age.

Three Saturdays a month for about £120

£8 per hour at 14 years old is a fucking good wage! Minimum wage is £5.28 at 16.

She probably won't be able to get another job like that at 14.. too young for most things.

That said I imagine the job would be very boring.

Babysitting? That's what I did from 15.

That’s my plan

There are restrictions on hours but it's perfectly legal.
OP you sound very sensible and I don't agree with anyone saying 14 is too young. It's empowering to have your own money that you've earned and I think it is good for teenagers to mix with adults and other people outside their social group.

I meant too young in the sense that employers won't want them under 16, or 18 for bar work.

My 16 (almost 17) year old does bar work. It's legal so long as the licence holder authorises alcohol sales.

This is really good advice!

The chip shop job would not be legal as you have to be over 16 to work in a commercial kitchen (including chip shops)

Thats an excellent rate of pay.

I’d allow her to leave, but make it clear that apart from providing a basic phone and a nominal amount of pocket money (£5-10 per week is what most local authorities say children in care should get to be in line with their peers so I always used that as a guideline) then you will no longer be subsidising shopping/cinema trips etc

I started working at 13. No regrets.
There are other benefits as well as the money.
Working in a salon means she could act as a 'hair model'/ get some free cuts and colours.
Even just sticking it out for a few months, and doing an excellent job, would give her a good reference that she could use to get another job in future.