teen job question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2006
teen job question
6
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 2:03pm

My daughter has a part time job at a local fast food franchise. She often works 6-9 or 6-10 pm, when the restaurant closes. I just found out that this weekend she worked alone for several hours, with someone coming in at the end of her shift to help her close. I am quite worried about this because she is only 16, it's her first job (she's had it since the beginning of the summer)and the area in which she works isn't really dangerous, but there aren't many other places open nearby, so in the evening it seems a bit isolated to me. I think it's dangerous to have only one person working, even more so because she's so young. My husband found out about this initially when he went to pick her up-when he expressed worry to her she really thought he was off base and said she's not scared because there are security cameras, which to me is an indication of her inexperience. My immediate reaction was to lecture her about how naive she is being, but I decided to take a day to think about what to do first.

I would like to go and talk to the owner of the franchise about this, because I do not want her to work alone. She will HATE me doing this, so I am planning to tell her I am doing it before I speak to him. Could this possibly cause her to lose her job? I have also thought about telling her to call me if she ever finds herself alone and I will go over and read in the corner so at least there's another adult there, but I think this is wrong, especailly because the store is not my responsibility. I've also thought about asking her to talk with the owner herself, telling him she can't work alone, but I'm pretty sure she will be very reluctant to do that, and may say she will just to appease me.

Am I being overprotective here? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Thanks!

Community Leader
Registered: 12-16-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 4:18pm
I don't blame you at all. Many places have rules against underage kids working alone at night! Good luck!

Ramona  Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 5:28pm


You are not being over protective. Here, a couple of years ago a young girl was killed while working home at night after working a late shift. This is an area that doesn't witness this type of thing that often. It was a shock.

As a result, stores and restaurants were pressured to put into place policies that protect their young workers at night.

No one should be working in a "service" industry job at night alone, anywhere. I would encourage your daughter to find another job.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2007
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 5:45pm
Not over reacting at all! Things happen even in the safest areas. And security cameras do not deter, have you ever heard of a hoodie? I've got a 16 year old daughter and I wouldn't let her work there. Just tell her it's your job to make sure she's safe, and no minimum wage job is worth risking her life.
Avatar for bookwormmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 6:39pm
I don't know where you live, but here in New York State, there are laws about when kids can work and also what they can and can not do. Here you have to be 18 or older to work with any kind of cooking or cutting machinery. If she is working alone in a fast food place that would mean cooking. I would check your state child labor laws about that and see what they are.
I wouldn't want my 16 yo working alone either. My husband didn't like when I worked alone when I was working at a pottery studio, I know he would flip if he thought our dd was working alone, and so would I.
I'd tell her to talk to the manager right away and get it changed or I would go in and do it.
Kristie
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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-14-2006
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 7:17pm

I would not want my 16yo alone at night at work. I think that you and your DD should follow up on this - it may not be legal, depending on where you live. She will be mad, probably, but teaching her how to keep safe is important.

(((HUGS)))

Sue

Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 9:54am
YOu are right.