Students often want a job in order to save for college, have fun money, and gain work experience.
Age 15 is the minimum age to acquire a work permit.
Sometimes there is a significant conflict with teenagers treatment in the workplace, and the struggle with balancing work hours and grades.
“I have seen a difference in how I am treated versus an adult,” Michaela Pugh, junior, said. “They [my manager] seemed to not like how I had to take more breaks. Because I am a minor, with child labor laws, I am allowed more work breaks. However, having a job is good, because it teaches you to be more responsible and teaches you the value of being on time. I will say, I did see a difference in lower energy while at school and that was definitely hard to manage.”
Other students agree that working and going to school is tiring.
“I have been working at Setterwoods Dog Training and Grooming since September,” Audrey Erikson, senior, said. “I love working with dogs and the pay is pretty good; it helps with paying for senior dues and prom tickets. On the other hand, the negative to working is that I don’t have any free Saturdays so I can’t hang out with my friends as easily. It definitely tires me out and it’s difficult to stay motivated for school.”
Some students see a difference in the ways students are treated compared to adults.
“I think older people at the job have more leeway and get by with coming in late more than the younger people,” Zachary Adkins, senior, said. “A positive to working would be that it builds work ethic and an opportunity for money, but the negatives are being tired all the time. I have seen a big difference in my energy, and my grades have dropped significantly. Although, I do believe students should work, they shouldn’t work a crazy amount of hours like I do.”
Others agree.
“I have worked since I was 15, and I have seen a difference in how I was treated versus the adults,” Lucas Yaunsem, 18, said. “Managers would always get mad at the fact that I had to take more breaks [child labor laws], and they’d let the older coworkers get by cursing at the younger workers. Along with everything, I saw a huge difference in my energy at school, and I could never find time to study.”
