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When I was 16, I wanted to work. I ended up at a grocery store, pushing carts, lifeguarding for the summer with a lot of people my age and finally at a theme pa
by kylehotchkiss 3y ago
When I was 16, I wanted to work. I ended up at a grocery store, pushing carts, lifeguarding for the summer with a lot of people my age and finally at a theme park running then then 7th fastest roller coaster in the world.
My parents didn’t give me allowance and I wanted gadgets. My first full summer job bought me a shiny plastic HP laptop which I installed Ubuntu on. And that’s I how ended up in a career that led me to join hackernews.
I see no moral issue with 16 year olds working basic retail and dining jobs. They should get to keep all their income though.
- missedthecue 3y agoIs your last sentence a reference to taxes?
- fnordpiglet 3y agoI would assume it’s not since kids generally don’t make enough to pay taxes. I assume it’s parents taking the kids income. However many kids work to pay the family bills and contribute to the family which otherwise couldn’t get by. The kids working illegally in meatpacking plants aren’t there for extra money to buy DLC, they’re working there to buy enough food and pay rent.
- emodendroket 3y agoYou are probably right but in my mind that makes it worse that their solution to the problem is having kids work at a meat packing plant.
- fnordpiglet 3y agoThey don’t see it as a solution to that problem. They see it as a solution to meatpacking plant profits. “They” don’t care about the kids or their starving families.
- emodendroket 3y agoThey can already do that, albeit subject to restrictions. Don't you see working at a meatpacking plant or a bar late at night as a bit different?
- kylehotchkiss 3y agoWorking at a meatpacking plant or a bar are not jobs for children, I just wanted to provide and argument that a limited set of jobs for 16 year olds can be a positive experience for others.
- voltaireodactyl 3y agoI think the previous poster is reacting to the fact that according to the article, if these laws are successfully passed, then meatpacking and bar work will, legally, be jobs for children.
- mattpallissard 3y agoI had my first under the table/cash job at 12. I was working for people who were small business owners that I've known my whole life. They weren't family, but my parents trusted them to work me hard while being honest and fair. It was a terrible, shitty job, but overall a great experience. I learned to think outside of the box and it gave me a sense responsibility. I fully support those types of situations, but I REALLY DON'T want to see kids working for BigCo. We all know kids won't be paid more than minimum wage and they certainly aren't getting points for critical thinking skills at a soulless corporation.