Teenage Jobs
One Foot in the Real World
By Daniel Muniz

A part-time job for a teenager in high school is a great way for a kid to put his or her foot in the real world while still living at home. Although some adolescents may sneer at the prospect of working at a job for around minimum wage, a lot of kids don’t mind it at all even if their employment consists of dirty grimy work.

These kinds of jobs allow teenagers to see firsthand how the real world works. For example, they have to show up on time to their workplace and perform a task that must be done correctly even if it is something mundane like mopping the floor or preparing a hamburger. This responsibility gives them great insight into what is expected from the workforce.

Of course the slackers won’t make it because the work still has to get done and someone still has to show up on time to do it. And if a kid cannot accomplish that, then their employment won’t last long. But for the teenagers who are able to get the job done, they will be earning a lot more than just some extra spending money. They will be learning a work ethic as well as gaining an understanding of the dynamics of a business operation.

However, there is a dark side to teenage employment that all parents have to be aware of.

Although it’s great for a minor to have a part-time job, he or she may not necessarily be working alongside the most savory characters. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that because that is how the real world really is and there is no way a parent can shelter their children from the harsh realities of life forever. But people do need to sit down with their offspring and explain the facts of life about the human race.

First and foremost, sex and romantic relationships needs to be discussed especially since their children are going to be working with people in their twenties and thirties or even older. For some adults, having sex with a minor has an allure to it while others just want to capitalize on the inexperience and naivety that teenagers have. For whatever the reason, kids have to be aware that their co-workers may not necessarily be their peers.

When I was in high school, a friend of mine had a job in the deli department of a regional supermarket chain. He became acquainted with a co-worker who was in her thirties. She made several advances to him and since my buddy was a 16 year old male with raging hormones, he happily enjoyed the attention. And of course that kind of banter eventually led to a few sexual encounters between them.

However, my friend soon discovered that his co-worker was married and had a couple of small children. He confronted her about it and she explained that she was just having problems with her husband which is why she had sex him (as well as with his other co-workers). As an adolescent, he didn’t mind the sex but he was distraught that she was married with children and that certainly wasn’t helping out their marriage.

And to no surprise, female teenage employees are also prime targets for sexual advances although more so from male supervisors. Some young girls might even enjoy the sneaking around which adds more drama to the situation.

The next issue is the drug use. Although some parents may feel that they have done a good job in reinforcing the message for their children to stay away from drugs, the real world can be starkly different particularly with the kind of industry that they will work in. There are plenty of young adults who frequently enjoy using narcotics and after years of consumption, it is of no big deal to them when and where they smoke or snort it.

While I was a college student, I had a part time job installing and maintaining an inventory database that calculated the food cost for a fancy French restaurant. In the office area where I worked at, the owner would occasionally use it for interviews. So while interviewing people, the owner would ask about drug use and I was surprised how nonchalant everyone was in admitting how often they got high and the owner didn’t have a problem with it.

One late evening when I had finished performing a physical inventory, the restaurant had closed and many of the employees had wanted to go to an all night diner to unwind so I thought I would tag along since I rarely worked with the night crew. Some of the employees, including their managers, pulled out some pot and started passing around joints even though we were still inside the building. Some of the teenage employees were horrified that their supervisor handed them a joint, to which all of them refused to partake in.

And finally, the reason some adults work in low paying jobs is because their criminal records prevent them from getting better employment. That is just another element that teenagers have to be aware of.

I in no way want to paint a negative picture of some of these minimum wage jobs. There are lots of places that employ plenty of honest hardworking people and then there are some places don’t. A parent cannot be overprotective of their children all the time. In fact, it is better to give them little doses of the real world because kids need that kind of exposure to it and a part-time job may very well provide just that.

Incidentally, a professional workplace has many of the same exact issues that can be found in a fast food joint although the setting and the circumstances may be different so this is nothing new.

As a result, the most important thing that parents can do is give their children some leeway with their part-time jobs. If there is inappropriate conduct or unethical behavior, a child has to know that it is okay to resign right on the spot and immediately walk away. Having that kind of freedom makes it easier for a kid to get out of a bad or even dangerous situation without the fear of being needlessly lectured about it.

A teenager putting his or her foot in the real world can be a great experience but parents also have to equip their offspring with the capabilities of handing the many harsh realities that life will throw at them.

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