18yo about to be let go from summer job because of phone use

[Anonymous]

I manage teenagers. Is it ok to ask them to leave their phones in their lockers? Their family can call the office and we will get them if there is an emergency

[Anonymous]

As a high school teacher I have no sympathy. This happens to my students all the time. They all truly believe and say things like “it’s illegal to not let me use my personal property.” They don’t get that this is why we have to use the phone pouches at school- to try and corral the phone use because they can’t independently manage it. Then they get fired from their jobs and have the nerve to think they were somehow wrongfully terminated or, as in one girl’s case, she literally blamed school. Said she wished WE had done more to help her understand how serious it is not to be on your phone at work. They don’t get it, it’s crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a high school teacher I have no sympathy. This happens to my students all the time. They all truly believe and say things like “it’s illegal to not let me use my personal property.” They don’t get that this is why we have to use the phone pouches at school- to try and corral the phone use because they can’t independently manage it. Then they get fired from their jobs and have the nerve to think they were somehow wrongfully terminated or, as in one girl’s case, she literally blamed school. Said she wished WE had done more to help her understand how serious it is not to be on your phone at work. They don’t get it, it’s crazy.

+1. I'm also a high school teacher. We aren't allowed to give real consequences without many, many repeat offenses and a paper trail of documentation, and even then probably not. Our private school has a no-phones in class rule, but this means that each day almost every kid pulls out their phone more than once in every class and is gently reminded by each teacher to put it away because they aren't allowed to have it. Rules aren't really enforced the way they were when you were in high school, and students are taught that their desires and "rights" to do what they want/break rules are of utmost importance. It would be a SHOCK to any of my students to be confronted with a real consequence, such as losing a job, for repeatedly breaking the same rule.

This isn't my policy, but the way parents and admin want things to be run now. And the consequences, as we can see from OP's daughter's situation, are really not good for kids.

[Anonymous]

Good. Let her be fired. She’s 18, it’s a restaurant job so it’s about as low stakes as it will ever be and she needs to learn a lesson. If mommy saves her in some way, the lesson will not be learned. Hopefully she’ll stay hired in her second job.

[Anonymous]

It is really an addiction. You need to drive her to work and keep her phone. Then go pick her up and she can have her phone back. If it is anywhere near her she will make excuses to access it.

I work at an elementary school and all the paid playground aides/supervisors are on their phones even after repeatedly and constantly being told to put their phones away. It really is nonstop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is 18 and started a summer job in May. She’s working at a restaurant. Her manager has basically told her he’s going to let her go soon because she’s on the phone too much during shifts.
From what I understand it’s not social media, she doesn’t really use social media,she’s just constantly FaceTiming/calling her boyfriend during work. Apparently it’s been going on for weeks and she’s been warned multiple times, but it hasn’t changed enough so now they’re at the point of letting her go.

I only just found out it’s this serious.
Part of me gets it — obviously you can’t be on your phone during a shift like that. But part of me is also frustrated because now she’s basically going to be at home all summer (until September) on her phone.

She’s upset and says she didn’t think it was “that bad,” but clearly it was. She says her boyfriend kept calling her, and she didn’t want to say no.
I’m not sure what the right move is here. Do I just let the consequences happen and hope she learns from it, or is there something she can do at this point with the manager to try to fix it and not lose the job? I don’t want her just sitting at home glued to her phone all summer either.

Quit job immediately.
Tell manager its her problem now that they are short handed.
Buh bye.

You have got to be troll

I think the OP is probably a troll. But it's a good wake up message for some parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. Let her be fired. She’s 18, it’s a restaurant job so it’s about as low stakes as it will ever be and she needs to learn a lesson. If mommy saves her in some way, the lesson will not be learned. Hopefully she’ll stay hired in her second job.

Learning a lesson would require Op actually putting in place consequences, which it doesn’t sound like she’s likely to do

[Anonymous]

Stop sending your half-brain kids to work. Open your own business and let them sit on the phone.
We are about to close a restaurant that everyone loves. Young people coming and going is one of the many reasons. It takes a lot of time, money, and effort to train people.
Have her create something and then sell it to make money.

[Anonymous]

She's 18, and she needs to master boundaries- telling boyfriend/others she can't answer the phone or talk during work. If they call, she doesn't get it. It's silenced. As for manager, she can research/consider if there's anything else she should do. This is all her. Boundaries and accountability 101.

[Anonymous]

She needs to start looking for another job. And she needs to tell her boyfriend that she can't text during work hours. Does the boyfriend not have a job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leave the phone at home during work time. Job is more important than boyfriend. He does not respect her time and responsibilities.

They are 18, the most important thing is their gf and bf!! Remember that time? Not like most mid life relationships, where everything else is more important.

[Anonymous]

When she’s at work, she works. Period. She can’t fill every single second, esp talking or texting on the phone, even if she doesn’t have a customer to serve every single minute of her shift.

Is this the first job she’s ever had? I worry that my kid is pretty addicted to her phone too and she’s def a people pleaser but this is a no go at work (lifeguard) and she’s only 15. If she lost her job, I think I’d take away her phone. I’d def stop paying for it. I would not get involved with the manager. Let the chips fall where they may. Wow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop sending your half-brain kids to work. Open your own business and let them sit on the phone.
We are about to close a restaurant that everyone loves. Young people coming and going is one of the many reasons. It takes a lot of time, money, and effort to train people.
Have her create something and then sell it to make money.

If working in your restaurant were more profitable you could hire adults and not teenagers. Pay your employees more. If you can’t pay a living wage, you deserve to go out of business

[Anonymous]

I hope there are online videos teaching teens and college students about phone use.

No, their phones should not ring during a job interview. If an urgent call is expected, tell the interviewer first. Urgent is defined as health and safety.

No, wearing airbuds still means you are on the phone. You are expected to be able to hear and to be available to customers/coworkers/managers.

We all made mistakes in early jobs. We just didn’t have cell phones.

[Anonymous]

Actions have consequences and your young adult is learning what they are.