Teaching teens healthy working habits?

LilElvis

My daughter's generation will have to work for longer before reaching retirement age than we will - and that's assuming there will still be a State pension in 50 years time. Given that, I would rather my daughter enjoyed the relatively short period of childhood and concentrate on her education than earn a few pounds a week.

Tabbytabitha

Mikela78 wrote: »

I don't know if this is the right place for this question but I wondered if anyone had any advice for preparing young adults for the workplace, about working environment issues, work/life balance etc.

I sent my 13 year old out to get a job a few months ago, and he came back with one in a restaurant. Lovely family-owned place.

I have taught him to record his hours, keep his payslips, check they tally.
Also to allocate himself part of his wages for long term savings, part to save up for things he wants, and a small percentage for wasting on afternoons in the arcade etc.

His dad and I work shifts and long ones at that so I want to try and not pass on our unhealthy working habits.

What would you teach your child based on your experiences in the workplace?

I do wonder whether the sort of jobs you're both in might be down to lack of educational qualifications on your part. If that's the case, it might be worth more to encourage your 13 year old into good study habits and not wasting his time (and money) in arcades rather than worrying about his earning a few quid.

Mikela78

Perhaps I haven't expressed myself clearly, forgive me.
I am thinking ahead, as in what would a teen need to know before starting full time work.
For the next 5 years or so he will have his few hours a week, then if he chooses to go to university then no doubt he will need to work while he is there too.

(As for the person questioning my education level, I went to university, my other half to technical college, we have both worked at managment level, not sure how a degree of lack thereof makes for a shorter working day.)

GreenTreen123

So much negativity on this post.
Perhaps some members can just not post if is not to their liking.

Tabbytabitha

Mikela78 wrote: »

Perhaps I haven't expressed myself clearly, forgive me.
I am thinking ahead, as in what would a teen need to know before starting full time work.
For the next 5 years or so he will have his few hours a week, then if he chooses to go to university then no doubt he will need to work while he is there too.

(As for the person questioning my education level, I went to university, my other half to technical college, we have both worked at managment level, not sure how a degree of lack thereof makes for a shorter working day.)

Sorry, I never mentioned university or degrees. Jobs and apprenticeships are very competitive these days.

I still think it's more important for a child of 13 to develop good study strategies and a good worth ethic regarding education and out of school activities than it does for them to worry about the sort of thing you're concerned with.

Tabbytabitha

GreenTreen123 wrote: »

So much negativity on this post.
Perhaps some members can just not post if is not to their liking.

Not negativity just different opinions and priorities.

theoretica

Look at the whole job and benefits package - holidays, location, hours, commute, work environment, security, pension - to decide what is best for you, not just the work and the wage. Sometimes spending less beats earning more.

All jobs have a balance between things your employer wants and things you want.

Spendless

Mikela78 wrote: »

There are lots of family owned restaurants, oubs and hotels in the area. Not sure how that is unusual?

It's not that it's unusual, it's that not all towns/cities are the same with the same opportunities. Somewhere with plenty of family run b & bs etc are perhaps more willing to have a different approach than an area with chain restaurants who are dictated to by their H.O concerning employing younger teens.

Spendless

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

Sorry, I never mentioned university or degrees. Jobs and apprenticeships are very competitive these days.

I never realised this until my friend struggled to find her son an apprenticeship because he didn't have the required 5 GCSEs inc English and Maths at the right grades. He had to (reluctantly) go to college for a year and re-sit maths, which he failed again (getting an even lower grade) then he was very fortunate through a family member a connection to an apprenticeship came up, though he had to do about 2 months voluntary work there first whilst the owner sorted out taking him on as an apprentice. Without that connection no idea what he would have done instead.

getmore4less

Hospitality and retail are good platforms for basic work experience for the young looking for experience.

Very portable skills for moving into further education and earning a bit on the side where good experienced flexible part time workers are gold dust.

Even in the better places the lesson to learn is that if you want to make it your life unless you own the place or get educated enough to get into senior management for the bigger places/chains you are in a low paying industry not known for the best employee relations and can get a very mixed standard of employee as well as employer.

I think the incidentals of employment law and contracts comes secondary to the life experience of learning about people both those they work with and customers.

By the time they are 16/17 they should have great customer service skills and identified the establishments that have the highest tipping customers.

In hospitality that's how you make the money for the least amount of work.