DD13 to get a job or not to get a job??

DD wants a job and really wants to apply to the local supermarkets (Coles and Woolworths) Now I am in 2 minds as to encourage her to apply or not allow her to. Now DD is extremely immature so 1. I'm not sure how she will cope with a job and been told what to do as she has a oppositional defiance disorder then no2 I am worried about her mixing with the wrong people and perhaps having some extra money which she may not put to good use. But on the other hand she is extremely bored at home and having a casual job for the school holidays and occasionally after school maybe just what she needs. With the money incentives it may help her gain some responsibility, she could meet some nice friends although they most likely will be older then her and she will have some money for things she may want that I can't afford to buy for her. I just don't know is 13 is too young. What are others opinions? My DH reckons she has a whole life of work to do so she shouldn't start now but she has been counting the days down until she turns 13 so she can start working.

not sure which state your in but i *think* in Vic you have to be 14yrs 9mths to get a job?

eta:- just did a quick Google and you can work under 15yrs but the employer needs some Working Children Permit

would she be able to apply even? In the dark ages when i was a young'un you had to be 14 years and 9 months old...(this was in QLD)

BUT, that being said, i actually thrived on the work. It was a crap as job at coles in the deli but it did wonders for my confidence as i was finally out of the socially suffocating environment of school and was expected to be respectful and was respected in turn by my colleagues. I made life-long friends! most of the people that i made good friends with were kids like me and a handful of first year or so uni students.

It can really broaden horizons and boost confidence and i do believe that it can lend some really valuable social skills as suddenly you are not protected by the school or your parents (ie. if you are acting stupid you will be called in and/or fired). For me, it allowed me to feel that i was part of something that was not necessarily defined by the parameters set out in the school/home environment (for example, at school i was just a weirdo hippy that like drama lol...whereas at work i was a chick that liked theatre and acting and the arts and that was COOL).

Yes 14yrs and 9months has gone out in the dark ages in NSW which is where we are. Several of DD's 13yr old friends have jobs already. Macdonalds employs 13yr olds ($6.50 an hour apparently no penalties for weekends etc) Woolworths is slightly more for a 13yr old.

Here in Vic it has changed back to 15, personally I think 13 is too young.

Regards,
Dianne

Wow I must be living in the dark ages - I thought it was still 14 and 9 months. I'm counting it down until my kids can get jobs....

I wouldn't let them work at 13 though, only because I remember what I was like as a 13 year old lol

Personally, I think 13 is way too young. 15 is more appropriate, but that's just my opinion. I agree with your DH, she has her whole life to work!

That's my concern Dianne that 13 is too young especially for my DD who is an immature 13. But she really really wants a job and we aren't in the position to give her more then a few dollars here and there and when we do tell her she can earn money she can't follow through with the task although for someone else I am sure she could.

If she wants to work, let her work. She may thrive or she may hate it and try again when she's older. I wouldnt do anything to discourage a kid developing a work ethic though. Good on her! It will teach her responsibility.

It will also be a good opportunity to teach her some financial skills, like saving. I'd say she can work if she agrees to put 10% of her net income into an untouchable, high interest, online account that only you know the password to.

That's a good idea L&B about the account. My friend's parents made there daughter save for a car and what she saved they matched it (she had been working for a few years then) so I was going to offer that to DD also. Id be happy to buy her one but she would get a better one if she could contribute a little herself. Maybe I'll tell her she can apply late this year and have the school Christmas holidays to have a trial. I did read somewhere that at 13 you cant work after 7pm which is good if its true.

I think part time work builds character and a sense of responsibility. As long as she can balance it with her other responsibilities (homework, chores, etc), it's a great idea!

I agree with L&B's but I would be inclined to enforce 50% savings!

My DD is 11 & I'd already love to send her down to the local supermarket or somewhere to stock shelves. To me I'd be happy for her to do it for free as work experience. I think kids need to learn what its like to have a job at a young age, to give them that work ethic. And so they appreciate things more.

If it was to happen & she was to get paid, DD would be not only putting in towards savings, but I would even consider asking for some towards the costs of living. Learning to pay bills is just as important as learning to save IMO (coming from an ex who just doesn't bother)...

I was refereeing basketball at 11 and cleaning the local church from 12. Started babysitting at 13 and then at Target at 14y9m. It made me very much more aware of how much things cost. My parents were raising four kids, with private school fees (think today's equivalent of $25K per year per child) on teacher's salaries, so there wasn't any spare money at all. In fact, I helped my folks out with money when I was in my late teens as Dad was unemployed and they didn't have $ for mortgage payments.

My kids will be starting a part time job as soon as they can, and we have set "rules" about their income, together as a family. They will be saving at least 50% of their own income, and when they want to buy a car etc (although my DS1 wants to buy a house first!!!) I will match whatever they have saved, as a one-off gift to them. So there's a huge incentive to save money and be responsible with their own finances.

I don't think 13 is too young, although it does depend on the individual child. I find children gain a lot of maturity when given responsibilities, including for their own money. I'd be a bit careful about what sort of work they did, though. Volunteering at the library, for example, wouldn't be a bad option for a 13yo. Depends on the child.

Good luck.

Motherclucker that's the position we are in. We have 3 but are trying for no4 and DD been the oldest will probably miss out the most if she doesn't earn some money herself when the time comes. We can pay our bills and the kids are at a private school and with braces there is nothing left for a lot of luxuries. I don't think DD would be keen on volunteering unless there was an incentive to do so. I also think it would help cure her boredom. But on the other hand she is very young.

Some other great suggestions were given about linking into existing opportunites which may be more age appropriate for her? I started out with netball umpiring and coaching, then babysitting for friends. It was great experience and once word got about I was busy as often as I wanted to be. Even odd jobs like dog walking, leaflet delivery may be a possibility?

In general I would say 13 is too young to have a job. BUT in this case, seeing as it is her pushing for it and she is really keen I would let her.

I would think that volunteering would be more age appropriate.

I totally agree with Zazou. I would rather my kids did volunteer work at that age. In fact they will be ;)

I would be worried that because of her age she could be taken advantage of - under $10 an hour is **** wages even for a kid and employers abuse that because they know they don't have to pay them much, especially if there are no penalty rates etc. If they are shelf packing for example, they are doing the same work as an adult and only getting a fraction of the wage for it. I'm all for kids getting jobs, but that's something I would worry about. Just make sure that she knows she can tell you if she's not enjoying it etc. I would love for my kids to have jobs, but because of the education choices we've made for them (boarding school) it makes it impossible.

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McDonald's employs 13yr olds ($6.50 an hour apparently no penalties for weekends etc)

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That makes me nervous. Whoever the franchisee is at the McDonald's you got that information from could get in trouble for that - the official handbook says it's 14 plus 9 months, and even then only dining room duties until they're 15. (Hubby's a Macca's manager) It might be different state-to-state, but I remember it being nation-wide when I was reading it myself...

Im going on what a yr10 student told me who was doing work experience so don't know how accurate her information was. She said woollies paid $8.50 no penalties and maccas $6.50 both for 13yr olds and the rates go up each year.

Absolutely not. I'd be calling both head offices to find out. If they were open now I'd be doing it myself for you!

$6.50 seems low, there should be a casual loading on top of that. Of about 1.23 or 1.25 depending on the state/agreement.

I work with some Fast food awards, don't think I have ever come across an employee who is under the age of 15. The main franchise I deal with is pretty consistent across the stores, across the states with what they pay.
The ages are a percentage of the adult wage. Basically reduce by 10% for every year under 21yo.

DS15 has just got his first part time job and he receives $8.30 and it goes up $1 every year.

Regards,
Dianne

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DS15 has just got his first part time job and he receives $8.30 and it goes up $1 every year.

Regards,
Dianne

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$8.50 at woolworths for a 13yr old sounds pretty good then. This is only going from what I was told of a 15yr old who was now working at a nursing home but started at Woolworths before she was 14. I'm not going to encourage DD. If she keeps nagging me down the track but I will let her apply. Maybe I can get her until she is 14 or 15 and she will be more mature then.

Instead of a job, do you think she might enjoy some other kind of community activities, like scouts or guides, etc. i don't know how scouts works, but for guides they have a number of "challenges" that the kids work towards, often heavily subsidised by their own fundraising activities. My DD has done things like rock climbing, challenge courses, sleepover at the zoo, etc. It encourages a sense of participating and being responsible, while encouraging the kids to relate to each other no matter what their differences are. Might be a good distraction for her.

i would encourage her, if she was really keen, into jobs that have daytime hours. When paying teens is so cheap, i would worry she would get midnight - dawn shifts at fast food places, and also, think of yourself, because i assume you would have to go pick her up at knock off time - so you might have to drag the whole family off in the car, to go pick her up at 3am for example. (i have no idea of the ages of your other kids etc).

Having a job, CAN teach immature kids to grow up a bit, but still needs some backup - which i'm sure you would give her.

Does she know how to use a lawnmower? (ask locally, if anyone in your neighbourhood needs their lawns done).
Babysitting after school for working parents in your neighbourhood (only a few hours)
What is she good at - could she work as a swim tutor in the holidays or any other sport she is good at (to teach the beginners etc).

having a bank account, paying own expenses, saving up for a car/major goal, meeting the needs of the employer, all good things for her to learn, but maybe in moderation at this age, and maturity level. Who knows, she may cope fine, surprise you and be ready for a more full on part time job this time next year.

you sound like you care about her so much, that's wonderful. My parents gave me zero guidance when i first started earning, apart from demanding i pay board immed, so i blew all the money (minus the board) as i had no clue how to be a smart consumer, how to save, about goals, etc etc.