Most teenagers who work in retail, food industries, or any type of workforce are not treated with enough respect as they should be. It’s time for us to recognize the contributions teens offer rather than judging their capabilities. Most teenagers who have or have had a job that deals with customer service are familiar with the stereotypes and biases that come with the occupation.
Respecting teenage workers doesn’t just mean respecting them for their age, but also their lower pay, work and life balance, and who they are as a person.
Pay is one of the biggest factors when it comes to respect. Most teens don’t even make over ten dollars an hour, with the minimum wage in Kansas sitting at $7.25. If teens aren’t given enough hours, then ten dollars will barely be able to support them, especially the ones struggling and trying to help their families.
Balancing a job as well as school isn’t easy. For those who are in sports, it becomes even harder. The stress when managing a seven-hour shift, catching up on homework, studying for a big test, and even remembering to eat sometimes is extreme. It takes diligent time management and dedicated commitment for both their education and employment.
I can tell endless stories of times I was judged and disrespected while at my own job for not knowing an answer to a question, not being able to help a customer due to our regulations, or just simply doing what I’m supposed to. Customers often assume you know absolutely everything about whatever they ask and will get easily angry or annoyed when you don’t. It just doesn’t make sense. Most teens are not even managers, so when they tell customers things like, “I can’t do anything about this, sorry,” it’s always “I don’t care,” or “I need you to do something about it.”. It’s the constant battle of ‘Karens’ that teenagers struggle with. Why can’t we see these teens for who they are and realize they only know and can help so much? We are barely making enough an hour, we most likely put in the work more than the employees above us, and still keep a smile on our faces while customers expect highly from us. Customers need to think before they speak.
By treating teens with respect, we invest in their growth, encourage them to reach their full potential, and create an inclusive workforce for not just the employees, but the customers too. Rather than judging teens for having “less experience,” in life or in their job, we need to acknowledge their capacity for multitasking. In reality, the management is preparing them for success in the future.
