To ask neighbour to pay son more?

[SunIsOutAgain]

My neighbour asked my 14 year old to do some jobs in the garden today. Cutting the lawn, taking back some hedges, tidying etc.

He is fairly competent at these things and it took him 2.5 hours. I would expect an adult could do it in 2, but it wasn't an especially small job.

She gave him £15 and he was a bit disappointed as he was hoping for 20. He said he didn't clarify the pay before starting (obviously an error that we've now discussed for next time).

It was very hot here today, which doesn't change the value of the work but does affect how he felt when he had finished!

Is this a reasonable amount of money? Should i speak to her?

I think you put her in an awkward position by not clarifying pay to start off with. Chalk it up to experience.

I actually don't know whether that is a fair amount or not OP.
But your DS needs to take this as a learning curve. That in future he needs to assess what he thinks is a fair rate for the job in advance of doing the work and discuss and agree things before doing the work.
It's probable your neighbout thought it wasn't a proper commercial arrangement and more of a favour he was doing which they wre rewarding with a token payment. But really these things need to be clarified in advance.

Yeah that's shit, but he should have agreed the price beforehand. You can't go asking for more money now it's done.

My ds15 is going to cut our (very small) lawn tomorrow for £30. It'll probably take him an hour, or 90mins max. That's probably quite a lot for his age and experience but he wants a particular item so this was the way to help him earn it.

I'd say £15 an hour would be going rate for a teen, or £20-£25 for a an adult.

It is too low. But now it’s done I wouldn’t ask for more - use it as a moment to teach your son the importance of agreeing things in advance.

She's a cheapskate and shouldn't be asking a 14 yo to do it in the first place, next time she asks say he's not available and let her do it herself.

£15 an hour for a 15yr old to cut a lawn!?!

£15 is not enough for that much work but he should have clarified his fee before starting. Valuable lesson learnt.

The minimum wage for under 16s is £8 an hour, so really he should have early £20. But I’d not say anything this time and sort it out in advance next time. I think the parent paying their kid £30 for 60-90 minutes of mowing the lawn is setting their child up for huge wage disappointment when they actually get a job!

How much do you think is fair, it's not easy especially when it's hot, and if you have to keep emptying the box or rake up the cuttings. An adult would probably change £60 an hour where I live.

Minimum wage for 16 year olds is £8 per hour, so £6 for a 14 year old sounds about right. Though definitely clarify the pay next time!!

@NameChangeScotwhat?? That’s more than my 22 year old earns at his actual job! I’d say £7.50 an hour is fine for a 14 year old and I would have rounded it up.

My thinking is I pay £40-60 when I get a local company to do it (depending on length) so half of that for an inexperienced teen and everyone benefits! He gets a bit of cash and I save a bit too.

Oh i didn't know there were minimum wages for kids, that is extremely helpful!

I agree that the amount needs agreeing in advance but I wasnt there. I will definately make sure I am with him next to to help manage the situation.

Thanks for the input!

£60 an hour to cut someone's lawn is definitely not the going rate where I live and I live somewhere where fairly posh but it is up north so maybe thats the difference. Its not landscaping its just part a general garden tidy.
I think around £10 an hour would be fair for a teenager under 16. That's higher than the minimum wage for this age group.

Would you feel comfortable speaking to her about this. Its not on at all.

That’s awful! Poor boy. I would have given him at least £20, probably an extra £5/£10 given the heat.

And 60-90 minutes to cut a "small lawn". Either we have different ideas as to what small is or he's doing it with nail scissors! 🤣

She should have given £20, maybe £25.

But it's well worth the underpayment for the life lesson in agreeing payments upfront!

I think she’s taking the mickey. Where I am gardeners start at £35/hr and yes I do just mean grunt labour. I’d love if a neighbours teen was available for odd jobs. I’d pay them £15/hr. If they weren’t any good I wouldn’t ask them again. Lesson learnt to be more assertive and agree terms upfront

That was tight of her but agree with others saying use this as a learning curve and state upfront costs and agree time and amount limit so they can’t accuse him of charging 3 hours for 1 hours worth of work. I would have given a kid doing that in this heat £30 for 2.5 hours and made sure he had breaks and cold drinks.

This has actually made me think I’m going to ask in neighbourhood WhatsApp group to see if there any such teens as I’ve loads of jobs

Very stingy of her ! Should have given him £25

Of course not?! Next time set a fee before he starts. Lesson learnt

You don’t say how large the lawn is, or the state of maintenance. I mention it because it’s relevant. If your neighbour used to do that job in an hour, it may be that she doesn’t think the job was worth more than £15.

Regardless, I would chalk it down to experience. If she asks again, he can state his price. He might do some research in the local area as to how much a gardener would charge for such a job, and how long it would take them, then compare.

I’d definitely treat it as a learning opportunity. Do you really think your teen would make the same mistake of not agreeing the amount up front again.

That it takes you being there to have him not make the same mistake again.

if that is the case, I’d be wonder why. What can you do to help support them without doing it for them.