How’s Your Teen’s Summer Job?

By now, teens working for the summer are at least half-way through the period of summer employment. Perhaps they are even considering staying on and working as a part-time employee. Therefore, now is a good time to discuss how the experience is going and, perhaps most importantly, how their boss is treating them. Whether working just for the summer or planning to work during the school year, the first work experiences are important. Teens need fair employers.
Ed, a convenience store manager, expected his teen employee Jessica to work every weekend and every holiday. When school started, Jessica remained on the job. She was still required to work weekends and on school nights she rarely made it home before eleven. According to the labor laws in most states, minors can work forty hours per week in the summer and twenty hours per week during the school year, and there are limitations for how late they work on school nights. Jessica was never paid for overtime or holidays, and although she went above and beyond, she was never given a promotion or raise either. Not only did Ed break multiple laws, he took advantage of a teen employee who was eager to please.
You can find the specific child labor laws for your state at: http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/states.htm.
Teens are attractive to employers because they are cheap labor. Although the vast majority of employers follow child labor laws and are cognizant of teens’ need for social and academic time, there are those, like Ed, who take advantage of teens. Parents should know the labor laws for minors, be aware of teens’ social and academic needs and guide them in dealing with bad bosses.
Parents have to protect their teen’s time. It is an investment in their future. If a teen is working a part time job while going to school, he or she needs time to do well in school. Education is their first priority. If a working teen’s grades start to suffer, it’s time to look at the work schedule. Perhaps a look at study and time management skills wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
Teens are still kids, and as kids, they need time to play and they need time with family. Parents don’t want a teen whose biggest life regret is that they didn’t experience the fun of being young because they were working. One of the questions parents should be asking right now is whether a teen feels like they’ve been able to have some fun this summer. There is no amount of money worth missing out on this important time of life. Sometimes parents need to remind teens of this fact.
Parents can give teens suggestions for what to say to their boss, but if things don’t change, parents also need to give permission to leave the job. Teens need assurance that they aren’t failing and they aren’t giving up. It’s actually the opposite, if they leave a job where they are being taken advantage of, they are demonstrating courage and ensuring their future success and happiness. Parenting a working teen is another one of those fine lines between allowing teens to be independent while still parenting. Be the parent who doesn’t allow their teen to be taken advantage of by a bad boss.
(http://www.heygetajob.com)

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