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

[Mildez]

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.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

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

[Cassius2]

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).

[Mildez]

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.

[diannescruffy]

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

Regards,
Dianne

[Arimeh]

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

[Jaycee]

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!

[Mildez]

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.

[TeniBear]

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

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...

[Mildez]

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.

[Rouge]

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

[Rouge]

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!

[Astrid]

$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.

[diannescruffy]

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

Regards,
Dianne

[Mildez]

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

Regards,
Dianne

$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.

[AnyDream]

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.