17 yr old and jobs

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
17 yr old and jobs
7
Wed, 12-27-2006 - 11:09pm

This is my first post to ivillage. I am feeling frustrated and just wanted to hear from other parents. My DS (17) has been working at a retail store for the past year. On Christmas eve they scheduled him to work 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. He was not happy with the hours because my side of the family always celebrates on Christmas Eve. He did not find out until 2 days beforehand so he could not switch with anyone. He called work on CE and said he could work until 8 but then he had to leave to go out of town. The manager told him anyone not showing up on CE would be fired. I told him he would just have to go and deal with it, I didn't think it was worth getting fired over. No matter how much my DH and I encouraged him to go in the end he chose to stay home. Well he went to work today and was officially fired.

I am extremely mad, frustrated, etc. (not sure what I am feeing) about the situation. I really don't know why though. I guess one of my worries is that his best friend does nothing but watch tv and play video games all day. I do not want him falling into this pattern. He is a senior in HS and plans on attending college in the fall. We have told him he needs to be actively looking for work because he does need to pay for school.

Any advice on this situation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
KC

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-24-2006
Wed, 12-27-2006 - 11:25pm

I don't have any advice for you... but wanted you to know that I totally understand your frustration and disappointment. My DS-17 missed work on X-mas eve. He had a myriad of reasons that could have been taken care of beforehand, but ya know, mom's stupid.

He was fired. They do learn, I have to believe that. My son told me he couldn't be fired from his job... yeah right, kid.

Hang in there!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-16-1999
Thu, 12-28-2006 - 7:10am

Every behavior has a consequence, as does every choice, and your DS is feeling the consequences of his choice to not go to work on Christmas Eve. Might not seem right or fair, but the supervisor told him what was going to happen to anyone who didn't show up, and he followed thru on what he said.

I've worked in health care for almost 30 years, a business that is of necessity, in operation 24/7. I've worked many weekends and holidays in that time, until I became a department manager. Nobody likes working holidays and weekends, but someone has to do it, and because vulnerable people are depending on people showing up for work, penalties for not showing up are double on weekends and holidays. One doesn't get to the supervisory/management level by not following thru, you have to be consistent and fair. Every one of your DS's coworkers could probably have come up with a reason not to show up on Christmas Eve, and in order to be fair, the manager has to enforce policies across the board. BTDT, not fun as a manager, but the responsibility given to me by MY supervisor is to keep the dept staffed and running per company policy. And even if your DS's business is not as vital to be staffed 24/7 as health care is, it is still the manager's responsibility to enforce company policy as given him/her by the top dog.

I'm sorry this has happened to your DS, hopefully he will carry a lesson away from the experience, grow from it, and handle his next job more responsibly.
Rose

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-31-2003
Thu, 12-28-2006 - 11:03am

My DS18 also was scheduled to work CE from 2 until 9 as well as C day from 12 until 7. He decided that he didnt want to go into work CE either - called his boss and said his car wasnt working. I could actually hear his boss on the other end freaking out and my son says well, I could walk there but it would take me 4 hours. He did show up C day and work though. He said it was unfair that he had to work both (which he did have a point)but I told him when you're low man on the totem pole unfortunately this is what happens. Told him if he doesnt like this part of his job he can always find another job or go back to school. I am hoping for the latter - lol! I do believe though that he is wearing thin with his boss as he is ALWAYS late and sometimes doesnt even show up at all - never a phone call.

The problem where I live is there are more jobs than people so these young kids know that if they quit one job OR get fired they can get another right next door. They are not learning any kind of work ethic whatsoever and the employers are putting up with it because they need a body there, even if they only show up for part of their shift. Drives me nuts but I keep telling myself that maybe one day he will get fired and hopefully learn the hard way.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Thu, 12-28-2006 - 11:15am

I am of two minds.
If he only found out 2days before that he had to work Christmas eve, then the company itself was abusing him. They should have given their employees advanced notice of hours over the holidays. Students have rights as well.

Unfortunately, too many of these retail companies treat their studemt employees as slaves.
Now, if the schedule was "out" a week or two before and your son neglected to check it, then he is at fault. However, I do find it strange that the company would not poll its employees to find out their religious practices before hand.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-04-2003
Thu, 12-28-2006 - 10:29pm
My DD was sort of on the other end of this. She also works retail and it's the one area of her life right now where she is being very responsible. She was playing in 3 CE services and so had arranged a crazy schedule of working until midnight on the 23rd, and then coming in at 6 a.m. on the 24th so she could leave at noon and rest before the services. Well 4 !!! people out of 9 called in "sick" on CE morning so she had to stay until 3 p.m. Then she was basically in rehearsals or playing until 11:30 p.m. Good she's young! Maybe the co-workers were sick but I'm just a little skeptical. I think she's learned that when some don't pull their weight, others really suffer. Now if we could just translate that lesson to other parts of life . . .
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Thu, 12-28-2006 - 11:18pm

I probably have the minority opinion here.
I have told all my little darlings that work is on the bottom of the agenda as far as their life as teenager, family member and high school student. It goes like this: Church / Family / School / Sports / Job. (Great list isn’t it? Now if only daddio could consistently practice his list..….).
Anyway, these part time jobs are a great experience for teaching a work ethic, managing money, etc...but they tend to be low-end entry level jobs managed by people not much older than they are. One of the more valuable lessons learned from these experiences is noticing when they’re being taken advantage of. DD kept getting her schedule pushed into more hours until she finally had to say no. Not something she looked forward to and it really stressed her out to put her foot down, but she did it. IMHO this was a more valuable experience for her than the work itself.
OTOH, if you agree to work retail, you should probably expect to be required to work a lot during the Christmas season and perhaps the holiday itself. Their time with us is so short, and I’m an admitted Christmas Season Sap... so I just cannot see them working in some store while the rest of us are experiencing our family traditions.

I wouldn't worry about him getting fired at his age and with that type of work. This was a good learning experience for him. The next job he looks into, he will know to inquire about scheduling and holidays. :-)
D

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 12-28-2006 - 11:32pm

He most likely could have asked for the day off IF he did so WAY ahead but he failed to and instead 'chanced it' because perhaps he wasnt usually scheduled in on Sunday evenings?? That sounds exactly like something one of mine would think

And, nope, they dont believe us because we're idiots in their eyes

Which leaves...he made a mistake-let's hope he learned from it. Teh experience was probably enough of a lesson-you dont need to belabor the point. It's done

That doesnt mean you cant start pointing out the Help Wanted signs you see and highlighting any possibilities in the want ads for him

Will he be motivated in due time by running out of money for a cell phone or car insurance or something?