Opinions please - my son's paper round - is this a fair wage?

Tesco_points_addict

Just wondering, particularly as we are in the season of good will and all that...why are some people so rude with their replies? If you disagree with the OP, why not move onto the next thread and ignore this one?

For what its worth I think if his work load has increased significantly he should ask for extra money. Cannot see anyone on here wanted to double their work load but not have an increase in pay.

TPAx

Savvy_Sue

bristol_pilot wrote: »

As an employer I can assure you that I would take no notice of a paper round that someone did at age 14 and would pretty much laugh at anyone who put such a thing on their CV. On the other hand, candidates who don't have a good set of exam passes (they all seems to have a string of A*s these days) will not even get an interview. Of course any proper work experience (post-16) is valued, that's another matter. So sending a kid out to do a paper round that could even possiby have an adverse effect on his schoolwork is a really bad idea.

That's a shame, because DS1 and DS2 who did paper rounds for years definitely show a stronger work ethic than DS3, but you'll never appreciate that because their results are equally stunning!

I know it's not always the case of course, and I wouldn't suggest my sons keep putting their paper rounds down once they're in the 'real' world of work. But at 16, when there's not a lot ELSE to go on their CV, I think it's worthwhile!

bristol_pilot wrote: »

In the 'real world' that some posters seem so keen on, some of the houses the OP's son is calling on will contain !!!!!s, muggers, dangerous dogs, used needles and god knows what. He could easily be mugged for his phone or bike. A house near me is a bail hostel, but there is nothing to indicate that on the outside of the building. A kid of 14 is too young to be put at risk for the sake of a few quid.

But surely all of those dangerous people and situations are there, regardless of whether you're doing a paper round or just passing through! At 14, children need to learn how to be a bit streetwise, IMO.

We did ask for DS1's round to be moved after a couple of 'incidents', but it was right opposite our house that his bike was taken off him - and we live in a very nice affluent area (where we do rather let the side down!) Should we not have let him out of the house on his bike on his own? At what age might it be 'safe'?

PolishBigSpender

bristol_pilot wrote: »

As an employer I can assure you that I would take no notice of a paper round that someone did at age 14 and would pretty much laugh at anyone who put such a thing on their CV. On the other hand, candidates who don't have a good set of exam passes (they all seems to have a string of A*s these days) will not even get an interview. Of course any proper work experience (post-16) is valued, that's another matter. So sending a kid out to do a paper round that could even possiby have an adverse effect on his schoolwork is a really bad idea.

Likewise. Fortunately, I don't have to see such things here - but if I ever did, I think I'd fall off my chair laughing and then question what kind of parents make their child work while still at school.

If people are so desperate for their child to gain 'skills', then I recommend volunteering. Far more useful and transferable than a paper round ever will be!

Savvy_Sue

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Likewise. Fortunately, I don't have to see such things here - but if I ever did, I think I'd fall off my chair laughing and then question what kind of parents make their child work while still at school.

For the record, I have never MADE my children work while still at school. They have chosen to do so, to get more pocket money than I am prepared to pay, and to enable them to take part in activities for which the family budget cannot be stretched, eg ski trips. Or, in the case of DS3, they have initially chosen NOT to work while still at school, and have therefore NOT taken part in expensive activities.

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

If people are so desperate for their child to gain 'skills', then I recommend volunteering. Far more useful and transferable than a paper round ever will be!

And far fewer opportunities for a 13 year old to volunteer than there are for them to work, limited as that is!

Enfieldian

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Well, if some poor (by EU standards) Eastern European country can afford not to sign their children up for slave labour, why can't the UK?



There's not bad money in fixing rich British people's plumbing or washing their cars, you know. 5 pounds a time for a 15 minute car wash job, minus the cost of some water and soap, all in cash = "ker-ching" I believe.

Not to mention £20 for a 3 minute lapdance.

Living 20 to a house can make it go a bit further too....

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

SteveyLomas

I used to get 11.50 for 7 days - 25ish papers a day, back in the early 90s. However this is an excellent negotiations lesson for him. Ask for a raise and if he doesn't like their reply - leave. I don't think it is necessarily a case of being fair or unfair. It is a negotiation. Are there other paper rounds available? Is he reliable and want to be retained?

On whether should youngsters should be doing paper rounds, I definitely think they should. This sounds a bit like someone who used to get beaten, but it really never did me any harm. I can't imagine getting up now at 5.30am for 2 years solid with only xmas day off, but it must have instilled some kind of work ethic in me.

More than that, my solid reference and something to talk about got me my first job in a shop when I was 16, which when I went to apply to post-university jobs, absolutely was something to talk about when they asked experiential questions during the interviews. I remember fellow students without work experience who had a torrid time due to their lack of work experience. More than that, the idea that 13 year olds don't have time to study is prepostorous. More than any other age, they have time in spades so I find it unlikely that anyone without a job would use their time directly on studying.

xmaslolly76

I was paid 2p per paper around 50 papers per days as i did morning and evening deliverys it used to be about 100 per day but the newsagent thought it was to much for girl i should have sued for discrimination lol. We also used to do money collection on a friday and during xmas our wages were drastically improved by christmas tips from the customers i delivered a quite affluent area and made £250 one year just in tips

doodlesmum

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Likewise. Fortunately, I don't have to see such things here - but if I ever did, I think I'd fall off my chair laughing and then question what kind of parents make their child work while still at school.

If people are so desperate for their child to gain 'skills', then I recommend volunteering. Far more useful and transferable than a paper round ever will be!

Really i rather disagree i think going out and being prepared to earn your own pocket money shows responsibility.NO ONE forced my son to do a paper round he chose to do it himself because he wants to save money for himself no harm in that .
I find your judgement of those of us who allow our children to do paper rounds pretty amusing seeing as you know none of us personally :rotfl:
The proof to me is in the pudding we live in a very small village and i have had a number of comments on what a charming pleasant young man my son is from those he delivers to so my parenting skills cant be that bad then
Doodlesmum