DS16 got a job!! (but........)

[MizTink]

he is sooooooo excited to have a job! he was really feeling down about not having his own money and not being able to provide anything for his baby (6 months old). i tried to tell him that i want his focus just to be SCHOOL and his relationship with his GF and the baby. but you know how pride is!
well, he really wanted a job, and has been trying hard to find 1 for about 7 or 8 months. he finally got hired at a really nice restaurant as a dishwasher for $8.50/hr. he applied friday, was hired on the spot, and started today.
here's the problem though......he just called to tell me that he is scheduled to work everyday this week straight from school until at least 11:30pm. he gets out of school at 2:15 and will start work at 3. he also said they get free food, but no real breaks. HELLO.......he's only 16 AND still in school. what are they thinking??????? what about labor laws? i don't now how he'll ever leave for school at 6:30am when he won't even get home until about midnight EVERY night.
i don't want him to lose his job, but this just isn't right. funny thing is, the manager wanted to make sure he was legal to work, but now doesn't care about the child labor laws?

 

[Sparx]

I just looked up the laws in florida, and he's breaking at least two of them.

eta, i kept reading the page i was on, and from the info you provided, he's breaking four.

 

[MizTink]

I just looked up the laws in florida, and he's breaking at least two of them.

eta, i kept reading the page i was on, and from the info you provided, he's breaking four.

yeah, and all the manager was worried about was if he was an illegal without papers! he's not even mexican!

 

[happygirl]

All most all the jobs I have ever had that is what the teenagers work from when they get out of school to close.

I appluad him for wanting to get job and not wanting to rely on you guys. He sounds very repsonsible.

If he just started today how do you know that he doesn't get breaks?

 

[pumba]

he is underage to work that many hours......our laws say 20 hours a week and no later then nine pm on school nights ....and weekends and school vacations are different

 

[MizTink]

he is trying be responsible. this boy is smart and mature beyond his years. he has matured SO MUCH since his daughter was born!
i'm very proud!

 

[Hillbeans]

Maybe let him work this next crazy week and he can let the boss know that he really can only work 20 hours a week going forward.

 

[MizTink]

All most all the jobs I have ever had that is what the teenagers work from when they get out of school to close.

I appluad him for wanting to get job and not wanting to rely on you guys. He sounds very repsonsible.

If he just started today how do you know that he doesn't get breaks?

he called me to tell me what time to pick him up. we talked for a few minutes and he said they don't really get breaks. but he had food he could eat while he worked. i'll find out more when he gets off.

 

[happygirl]

he called me to tell me what time to pick him up. we talked for a few minutes and he said they don't really get breaks. but he had food he could eat while he worked. i'll find out more when he gets off.

If he is working that many hours he should get a two minute breaks and one half hour break., I know in the resturant business it's really hard to take breaks if it gets busy. I hope he can make this work out.

 

[happygirl]

Here is some stuff I found on child labor laws
Hours. Minor employees between the ages of 16 and 17 are permitted to work an unlimited number of hours, providing that the Secretary of Labor has not declared their occupation as hazardous. However, minors between the ages of 14 and 15 are bound by stricter hour limitations. They cannot work more than 3 hours per day Monday through Friday, or more than 8 hours on a weekend day. Additionally, when school is in session a minor cannot work more than 18 hours a week. During holiday and summer breaks, this maximum increases to 40 hours per week. The required time frame for shifts is 7:00am – 7:00pm year-round, with the exception of June 1 – Labor Day, when a minor employee is permitted to work between the hours of 7:00am – 9:00pm. For more information on minor employment hour requirements, visit www.youthrules.gov.


http://www.laborlawcenter.com/t-employing-minors.aspx

 

[Wonderlandmom]

http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/reg/childlabor/ChildLaborHours.html

Minors 16 and 17:
When public school is in session, minors 16 & 17 may not work before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m. or for more than 8 hours per day, when school is scheduled the following day, nor during the hours that school is in session. These hour limitations do not apply on non-school days when a school day does not follow, during non-school weeks, and during summer vacation.
When school does not follow the next day, such as Friday, Saturday, and other days that precede a holiday, minors 16 and 17 may work until their shift is completed. Example: A minor begins work on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and the shift ends at 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. This is not considered a violation of the regulation that minors may not work before 6:30 a.m. when school is scheduled the following day, because the minor is completing his Saturday shift, and not beginning a work shift before 6:30 a.m. on Sunday.

These teens may work no more than 30 hours per week when school is in session. However, during the Summer vacation and non-school weeks they may work unlimited hours.

Minors are NOT permitted to work during normal school hours unless they are enrolled in a school-to-work experience program, career education or other program declared exempt by the state, or have received a partial waiver.

BREAKS:
Minors are not permitted to work more than four hours without a 30-minute, uninterrupted meal break. This applies throughout the year.

 

[SandrA9810]

Why doesn't he try for OJT, a work release program at school??

As long as he's done good in school so far, he shouldn't have an issue cutting out classes. And by his senior year, he should only have to take two classes (english 4, & gov and economics) to pass. And the OJT will count as elective credits.

This will allow him to be out of school around noon, be able to spend some time with the baby before the mother gets home, and then he can go off to work. And that'll be less daycare time for the baby.

It's tough and even after high school, he'll find himself spending more time working than he would at home.

 

[Liberty Belle]

All most all the jobs I have ever had that is what the teenagers work from when they get out of school to close.

I appluad him for wanting to get job and not wanting to rely on you guys. He sounds very repsonsible.

If he just started today how do you know that he doesn't get breaks?

It's illegal. When are they supposed to do homework? And teenagers are supposed to get way more than 6.5 hours of sleep a night.

 

[happygirl]

It's illegal. When are they supposed to do homework? And teenagers are supposed to get way more than 6.5 hours of sleep a night.

It's not illegal did you read the link I posted

 

[mtomlin66]

It's not illegal did you read the link I posted

I think you missed something from the website you linked to:

More information on Hours Restrictions.

Different rules apply to farms, and individual States may have stricter rules.



Yes, the federal guideline states that he can work unlimited hours but as a PP cited in their post the state guideline limits the hours.

 

[princess.chell]

It may be illegal but it happens. I'm 18 (a senior in hs) and have had my job at a fast food place since I was 16 (a sophomore). I used to start at 4 and work till anywhere between 10 or 11 depending on how long it took us to close the store. Plus homework, then I'd be up again at 6:30am to go to school. Now I did get breaks (if I work 6 or more hours I have to take a 30 minute 'lunch' and a 10 minute). My manager didn't really give a crap about labor laws either. I never got a work permit from my high school, never left on time, etc.
I did talk to my boss and tell him I couldn't work every night during the week, and my schedule changed, but it still was tough. A lot of sleepless nights and sleeping through classes. Now that I'm a senior and not taking the type of classes I did sophomore and junior year, I'm fine with walking in the door at 10:45 on a weeknight, showering and falling into bed at 12, but it was hard. May I suggest, 5 hour energy shots? or some RedBull.
But in all seriousness, its tough. I feel for your son with those hours.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

When he applied for the job, did he tell them he was looking to work full-time or part-time? Whenever I got a job as a teenager, I always checked off part-time on the application and discussed what hours I was available during the interview. Sounds like your son just said he was looking for a job but didn't discuss specifics before getting hired. As much as he wants to earn money, it doesn't seem realistic or healthy for a 16 year old who's going to school and has a child to work that many hours. He needs time to do his homework and see his girlfriend and help with the baby.

If it were my son, I would tell him to discuss the hours with his manager. He should explain that he has other responsibilities and perhaps he can offer to work 8 hours on weekends but needs to work no more than 5 on weekdays. If the manager refuses, he'll have to decide whether to stick it out or quit and find a part-time job.

 

[happygirl]

It's weird to me that state and federal laws vary so much.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

If they're taking advantage of him so soon after being hired, it's only going to get worse. I suggest he talks to his supervisor and explain he cannot work so many hours due to school, and if it does not get better then it's time to hunt for a new job.

 

[dnoyes]

If he is 16 and has a baby to care for I think he should work until he drops every night. I did. I was in his shoes at 16 and I tested out and got my GED and went to work. It was what needed to be done, be a big boy (not just in the bedroom) but in life.

I don't get it. You are more worried about him working late then you are about the care of a child? He's 16 why can't he drive himself to work ?

By the way my daughter is 23 and a college grad with a great job. Wouldn't have happened if I was home at 9:00 every night.

I guess what I'm saying is if he wants to act like a man he needs to be one. Sounds like he's trying .... let him.