Is this a step towards adulthood, or is it the beginning of a downward spiral in school performance?  How do you help your child decide if this is the right choice for him or her?  Furthermore, how do you help your child if he does get the job?  Nearly every teen can benefit from real life job experience.  However, teens need to go into this experience with open eyes and realistic expectations.

Benefits

Jobs help teens learn:

•  money management

•  responsibility

•  time management

•  independence

• job skills that may be transferable to a future career

• confidence

“Studies find that students who work a moderate amount – no more than 10 to 15 hours a week during the school year – tend to earn higher grades than those who don’t work at all.” (Price)

Risks

Jobs may make it difficult to:

• participate in extracurricular activities

•  have adequate time to devote to schoolwork

• maintain social relationships

• avoid risky behaviors such as illegal drugs and alcohol

Studies have found that students who work more than 13-20 hours a week, achieve lower grades. (Price) 

The Law

  Under federal and state law:

• Children under 14 can deliver newspapers, baby-sit, perform domestic work in a home, and work for a parent’s business if it is non-hazardous.  They may also be a performer.  They may work from 7 am to 7 pm during the school year and until 9 pm in the summer.

• 14-15 year olds may work at non-hazardous jobs for three hours on school days and eight hours on non-school days.  The maximum number of hours per week is 18 hours during a school week and 40 hours during non-school weeks.  They may not work after 7 pm or before 7 am except in the summer when they can work until 9 pm.  They still may not work before 7 am in the summer.

• 16-17 year olds may work at a non-hazardous job for eight hours on any given day.  They may work a maximum of 28 hours Monday through Friday plus an additional 8 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday.  They may work a maximum of 44 hours per week.  During the school year, they may not work after midnight Sunday through Thursday or before 6 am any day.  If the following day is a non-school day, they may work until 1 am.  There are no limits in the summer as to the times they can work, but they still may only work 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week.

How does my child get a work permit?

Your child should obtain a work permit at the main office.  This will be yellow for 14-15 year olds and white for all others.  You should take the permit to the employer to have him fill out his section of the form.  Then, you must go to a doctor who will verify that the student is healthy enough to work.  Finally, you will bring the form back to the school where we will fill out our section.  A parent must be present to sign the form in the presence of the issuing school officer. 

What to do if your child takes a job

• visit the job site and meet the supervisor

• limit hours worked, especially at first

• monitor grades closely

• encourage your child to continue participating in extracurricular activities and maintaining social relationships

• be on the alert for changes in behavior which may indicate a problem

In conclusion, a job may be a great learning experience for your child.  Or, it may be the beginning of many problems that you did not anticipate.  Enjoy the continuing maturity and independence of your teen, but remember that he or she still needs your guidance and help even if he won’t admit it.  Keep close tabs on your child’s schoolwork and don’t be afraid to step in if problems arise.  Education should be your teen’s number one job. 

Source:          Is Your Teen Ready for a Job?

                        Susan and Tom Price