The right summer or part-time job can build kids' skills, make good use of their spare time and fill their pockets. But before your teen dives into the work-force, Family Circle tells you what you both need to know to avoid any occupational hazards.
For most teens - and their parents - the payoffs of working far outweigh the risks. Help your teens get the most out of employment with these stay safe strategies:
-Do your homework: Before your teen says "yes" to a job, find out as much as you can about the potential employer and the workplace.
-Know the laws: Explain child labor regulations to your teen so she'll know if she's asked to do anything inappropriate (like serving alcohol in a restaurant or working beyond allowed hours). Go to youthrules.dol.gov/states.htm for the specifics in your state.
-Establish your own ground rules: Don't just rely on the laws. You may need to be stricter. Even if it's legal for your teen to work until 7 pm on a school night, for instance, you may want him home by 6 pm so he's not driving after dark.
-Ask leading questions: Your teen may not tell you how things are going - you'll have to pull it out of her. "How was work today?" is likely to yield an unenlightening, "Fine." Instead, inquire, "Does the manager ever ask you to work after you clock out?" or, "How closely does your supervisor watch to make sure you do things the right way?" One of the most important things a parent can ask is, "Have your responsibilities changed since you started the job?" You need to know whether a kid who was hired to do something innocuous may have graduated to something riskier.
-Watch for signs of sexual harassment: Does your teen seem worried or exhausted? Does she get agitated or secretive when you ask about work? In a recent study of 393 teen boys and girls conducted by the University of Southern Maine in Portland, 35 percent said they had been sexually harassed on the job. Ask your teen, "Has anyone ever made crude comments about your appearance or touched you in a way that made you feel uncomfortable?"
-Practice some good responses together: If things don't improve or if your teen feels seriously threatened, it might be best for her to quit the job and file a complaint.
-Empower your teen to speak up: Unlike adults, who prefer to feel autonomous by learning tasks by themselves teens are happiest when their responsibilities are clearly spelled out.
For more tips, pick up the latest issue of Family Circle magazine or visit www.familycircle.com.
