If your high school kid has a summer job

[Tiggeroo]

would you let them call out sick when they weren't? My son did this and I found out. Now I have grounded him. I think it is irresponsible and he only works 18-24 hours a week. I required him to get a summer job this year because he has alot of expensive hobbies and my kids are breaking my bank. Their money is just for spending money and to save a bit towards car insurance for next year when the boys get their licenses.
He defends it by saying kids do it all of the time. I tried to explain to him that since he took off, somebody else had to come in on their day off and cover for him. I get nowhere with his stubborness.
He has a fun/easy job at an ice cream parlor with a super easygoing boss. And every day when it's time to go in he says he wants to quit his job. Oooh, I am so angry at him right now.

 

[Serena]

Do you think having him help you pay bills, as in figuring out the budget and where the money goes would help?

 

[SillyOldBear66]

I'd be furious!
DD and DS aren't old enough to have summer jobs yet but when they do it will be much the same as the policy that we had with sport teams that they joined. When you sign on people expect you to be there. If you are really sick that's fine...but if not then you fulfill your commitment to be there.
My husband and I were just talking about this last night. He has people working for him who continually call out or simply just don't show up. He had a call last weekend from a guy who called to say that his softball game was going into overtime and he wouldn't be in to work.
HUH?!?!

Stick to your guns!

 

[Mary Anne]

My son is working for the first time this summer at a day camp. That would NOT be allowed at all. The same way they are not permitted to stay home from school because they aren't prepared or don't feel like going in, work is a responsibility and they signed on for the summer and my son is expected to show up everyday at the appointed time.

He's expected to work all 8 weeks; the pay is a lot better then working in a fast food place and he's doing something he really enjoys. To be honest there isn't much available for a 15 year old and this job was a real find that I told him he worked hard to get so he should treasurer it. This week was a pure volunteer week, he worked 3 days doing a lot of grunt manual labor work setting up for the kids to come in and made $140 I decided since he expected nothing and did it as a favor I would let him keep all of the money to do with as he wished. Starting next week when he gets his agreed upon salary most of that will be banked.

For the record he changed all the "small" bills into one $100 bill so he'd be sure not to spend it. He's a good kid.

I'm also giving him $5.00 a day for lunch but any money he spends over that for food a day comes out of his pockets. I love him but I just can't afford to keep him fed :jester I am joking but this is a child who thinks two big mac meals are a snack before and after a full course dinner. Not an ounce of fat on his body either LOL

 

[BrerMom]

One summer, I worked at a camp. I was really sick and just wanted to sleep in my room. I asked for, and was denied, a substitute. The policy at that time was that if my temp was 100º or higher, they would get a sub for me. The temp never went above 99º, so I was with the kids all session. This was a camp where the parents came with the kids. If I had been a parent and seen a sick leader exposing my kid to who-knows-what, I would not have been happy.

I know of two different professionals that called in sick when they weren't, got caught, and were fired.

High school students here can miss 10 days per semester and still get credit if they pass the exam. That means they can miss 20 days per year. The student mentality is sometimes, "I'm allowed to miss 20 days per year" and that attitude spills over into the job setting.

 

[kendall]

What does he do instead of going in to work? He has a summer job so he can pay for his expensive hobbies. If he wants to give 2 weeks notice and quit, ask him to plan out...

1. If he doesn't work a summer job, how is he going to pay for his hobbies? Figure our how much it takes for his hobbies, especially over time, and where the money is going to come from

2. Is there a different kind of summer job he would prefer? If so what and why?

3. Whether or not others do it (call in sick when they are not), does that make it right? And has he covered when someone else called in sick?

4. Rather than call in sick, can he swap shifts with someone else?

5. How does the current employer view employees who call in sick? What kind of recommendation does he provide? What kind of recommendation will he provide if the employer discovers this? Think of the potential impact - scholarships, honor society, etc.

Can't watch DS all of the time, this may be a lesson he will learn the hard way....

 

[Tiggeroo]

Kendall - these are all things I covered with him. Got nowhere at first. I can't be everywhere with him. But while he is a minor living under my roof there will be consequences. He's grounded for a week. It would have been less if he had acted repentent at the beginning.
His boss called here and he still has his job but he will be getting a talking to his next day in. He's already dreading it. I will not give him any money.
He has a really good job too, that pays better then a fast food place. He has no idea how good he has it.

 

[kendall]

sounds like experience is going to be the teacher here... good luck!

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

What did he miss work for?

And to respond to another poster, the softball player had an obligation with his teammates to continue what he started.

 

[Tiggeroo]

It's amazing how you can have three kids and they can all be so different. This is my hard headed child. He doesn't like to learn things from me and always has to see for himself. He really thought it would be no big deal and his boss wouldn't mind. He has no idea. We live in a tourist town where summer jobs are a dime a dozen. I have seen his friends lose or quit a job, walk two stores down and get another one the same day. However, not all bosses are nice, and not all businesses are pleasant to be in.
I have made it difficult for him as well. Instead of working in an airconditioned ice cream shop dishing cones, he is cleaning his bed room, then the bathroom, then the back porch which needs scrubbing badly. Oh Well.

 

[Lucky4me]

My sons went through this around age 16-17. One son was fired for calling in when he worked at Wendys. The other went through 4 jobs in about 6 months, walking out of each one when he got fed up. They are now 20 and 21 yo college students who work 50-60 hours a week all summer at Eastman Kodak. I doubt either will miss any work over the next few months. My older son had a bad cold last week. He felt awful but plowed through those 12 hour days like a trooper. I think he is finally growing up.

The consequences your son gets from his boss will probably hurt more than anything you do, but it's good he knows you don't approve.

Don't worry, I'm sure he'll shape up!

 

[Tiggeroo]

Lucky, I'm so glad to hear it. He's a good kid. Just at times seems so immature for his age. He really doesn't seem to understand that when I get upset it's not just to make his life miserable. I want him have a good life when he leaves home.
BTW, if he goes to work and shows any sign of feeling bad, or better yet, apologizes I will lift his punishment. I don't really feel like having a bored 15yo home full time for a week. I don't want to tell him this though. I want him to do it on his own.
If he didn't like his job he could walk down the boardwalk and get another job in one day. If he finds a job and gives his boss til the end of the week's notice I wouldn't care. I don't want him to hate going to work.