When I was a teen there was no shame in working at Roy Rogers, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Wendy's etc..

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Orange county, CA and graduated high school in '93. Working in fast food was definitely a stigma (unless it was In n Out--they paid more.) I'd say about half of my high school classmates had an afterschool/weekend job. Lots of kids worked as baggers in a grocery store, at a local frozen yogurt store, etc. But I only knew a couple of kids that worked at a chain fast food. I had a job for a little while in a children's clothing boutique (small, independently owned.)

[Anonymous]

McDonalds breakfast is damn good and damn convenient go ahead and ridicule me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Low-end fast food is disgusting and eaten by poor people, mostly. Mega negative stigma associated with them that didn't exist in the 90s.

2. Fast food managers want desperate employees they can work like slaves (local welfare recipients that need minimum hours for their welfare and recent immigrants). They know smart kids won't take bullshit from some flunky psychotic manager.

3. Travel sports and student orgs and AP classes leave iffy availability, see #2.

4. College admissions is RIDICULOUSLY competitive, so every hour flipping burgers for welfare recipients is an hour some Asian and Indian kid is studying their ass off.

Every 3rd kid I know is going to Maryland, JMU, GMU or similar -- is it soooo hard to get into those that 10 hrs a week of working will keep them out and they need to be studying 24-7. Give me a break. You don't want them to work, that's great. But school is not an excuse.

Just because they end up at those colleges doesn't mean the parents didn't have higher hopes. And don't get me wrong, the average kid is sitting on their ass for far too long -- but it doesn't necessarily translate to great availability for a fast food joint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Low-end fast food is disgusting and eaten by poor people, mostly. Mega negative stigma associated with them that didn't exist in the 90s.

2. Fast food managers want desperate employees they can work like slaves (local welfare recipients that need minimum hours for their welfare and recent immigrants). They know smart kids won't take bullshit from some flunky psychotic manager.

3. Travel sports and student orgs and AP classes leave iffy availability, see #2.

4. College admissions is RIDICULOUSLY competitive, so every hour flipping burgers for welfare recipients is an hour some Asian and Indian kid is studying their ass off.

Every 3rd kid I know is going to Maryland, JMU, GMU or similar -- is it soooo hard to get into those that 10 hrs a week of working will keep them out and they need to be studying 24-7. Give me a break. You don't want them to work, that's great. But school is not an excuse.

Just because they end up at those colleges doesn't mean the parents didn't have higher hopes. And don't get me wrong, the average kid is sitting on their ass for far too long -- but it doesn't necessarily translate to great availability for a fast food joint.

I agree that school is an excuse that parents here want to make. But I also wonder if fast food and national retail chains have gotten less accustomed to having to work with student schedules -- scheduling people for 10-15 hrs a week after school and weekends only -- bc now they have a much much larger immigrant/Hispanic population available that is available to work 40+ hrs a week. It's likely easier for management to have people who can be scheduled at any time rather than having a line up of teens who are only available after 3 pm -- and then having to hire adults to be available at 11 am. This also explains why it's easier to get hired at local stores (to the extent we have any left) -- those stores are often owner operated and just need a bit of part time help, not 40 hr/wk help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only see the stigma attached in this area, TBH.

People in this area love to put on airs and live beyond their means.

To quote my son's friend, whose mother would die of shame if she heard what he said, "I'm not allowed to have a job because my mom says it makes us look poor. I think we are secretly poor or why else would our AMEX bill be $30k? I saw it once and it said it's going to take them 25 years to pay it off. That's insane!"

Even among my kid's friend's parents, fast food jobs are not acceptable. Working at the fro yo shop or Coldstone? Fine. Working retail is fine as long as it's not Walmart. The best jobs are those that can bolster the kid's academic resume. My daughter's friend has an internship at her mom's law firm with some crazy title and bullet points for all of the impressive things she helps do, but all she really does is redact documents and shred.

It's not just this area. It's any well to do area. Here, Westchester County NY; Bergen County NJ; Princeton NJ area, Main Line Pa. etc.

It's not about why is there shame to working now, it's -- why is there shame to working if you live in a wealthy area. And the answer is-- bc parents act like other parents who "make" their kids work can't properly provide.

I grew up in Westchester, still live here. I was a teen in the late 80s/ early 90s. My best friends had jobs- retail, library, after-school babysitter (during which one friend was sexually assaulted, but I think that's a different thread). I wanted a job too, so I got a local retail job. I got fired for going on a (planned, with notice) vacation with my parents.
There was no stigma here with working, but I don't know one person who ever worked in fast food (we didn't have much of it around, so that could be a factor). A girl two years ahead of me in school took a job in the grocery store, and everyone was surprised and sad for her, because it was interpreted as her being desperate. She was very nice, a great student, came from an excellent family, and was accepted at an excellent (expensive) college, with a partial scholarship. She took the grocery job to finance personal spending/ books, etc. My mother always made a point to go to her line and wish her well/ say how great she was doing, and mention to me afterwards that she was happy to see "Mary" was so motivated to do everything she could to excel in college. My mother was really proud of her, and probably secretly wanted me to get a job in the grocery store too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only see the stigma attached in this area, TBH.

People in this area love to put on airs and live beyond their means.

To quote my son's friend, whose mother would die of shame if she heard what he said, "I'm not allowed to have a job because my mom says it makes us look poor. I think we are secretly poor or why else would our AMEX bill be $30k? I saw it once and it said it's going to take them 25 years to pay it off. That's insane!"

Even among my kid's friend's parents, fast food jobs are not acceptable. Working at the fro yo shop or Coldstone? Fine. Working retail is fine as long as it's not Walmart. The best jobs are those that can bolster the kid's academic resume. My daughter's friend has an internship at her mom's law firm with some crazy title and bullet points for all of the impressive things she helps do, but all she really does is redact documents and shred.

It's not just this area. It's any well to do area. Here, Westchester County NY; Bergen County NJ; Princeton NJ area, Main Line Pa. etc.

It's not about why is there shame to working now, it's -- why is there shame to working if you live in a wealthy area. And the answer is-- bc parents act like other parents who "make" their kids work can't properly provide.

I grew up in Westchester, still live here. I was a teen in the late 80s/ early 90s. My best friends had jobs- retail, library, after-school babysitter (during which one friend was sexually assaulted, but I think that's a different thread). I wanted a job too, so I got a local retail job. I got fired for going on a (planned, with notice) vacation with my parents.
There was no stigma here with working, but I don't know one person who ever worked in fast food (we didn't have much of it around, so that could be a factor). A girl two years ahead of me in school took a job in the grocery store, and everyone was surprised and sad for her, because it was interpreted as her being desperate. She was very nice, a great student, came from an excellent family, and was accepted at an excellent (expensive) college, with a partial scholarship. She took the grocery job to finance personal spending/ books, etc. My mother always made a point to go to her line and wish her well/ say how great she was doing, and mention to me afterwards that she was happy to see "Mary" was so motivated to do everything she could to excel in college. My mother was really proud of her, and probably secretly wanted me to get a job in the grocery store too.

Replying to myself. I sometimes see teens working in fast food (now that we have more of it) but it definitely depends on the area- there are lots of older workers, and people from other countries of origin. In my town, lots of kids work in the grocery store now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Damn I really miss Roy Rogers. That was the only fast food I liked.

Roys is still around, and on a rebound lately.

I root for them. Local company.

[Anonymous]

My stepson has worked some of those jobs. Not McDonalds, but Panera, Einstein Bros, Chipotle, etc. His friends came in to see him, which ended up getting him fired from at least one place, so not sure there's this huge stigma. We're not rich but some of his friends are, so perhaps they and their parents were judging, but whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Low-end fast food is disgusting and eaten by poor people, mostly. Mega negative stigma associated with them that didn't exist in the 90s.

2. Fast food managers want desperate employees they can work like slaves (local welfare recipients that need minimum hours for their welfare and recent immigrants). They know smart kids won't take bullshit from some flunky psychotic manager.

3. Travel sports and student orgs and AP classes leave iffy availability, see #2.

4. College admissions is RIDICULOUSLY competitive, so every hour flipping burgers for welfare recipients is an hour some Asian and Indian kid is studying their ass off.

Every 3rd kid I know is going to Maryland, JMU, GMU or similar -- is it soooo hard to get into those that 10 hrs a week of working will keep them out and they need to be studying 24-7. Give me a break. You don't want them to work, that's great. But school is not an excuse.

Just because they end up at those colleges doesn't mean the parents didn't have higher hopes. And don't get me wrong, the average kid is sitting on their ass for far too long -- but it doesn't necessarily translate to great availability for a fast food joint.

I agree that school is an excuse that parents here want to make. But I also wonder if fast food and national retail chains have gotten less accustomed to having to work with student schedules -- scheduling people for 10-15 hrs a week after school and weekends only -- bc now they have a much much larger immigrant/Hispanic population available that is available to work 40+ hrs a week. It's likely easier for management to have people who can be scheduled at any time rather than having a line up of teens who are only available after 3 pm -- and then having to hire adults to be available at 11 am. This also explains why it's easier to get hired at local stores (to the extent we have any left) -- those stores are often owner operated and just need a bit of part time help, not 40 hr/wk help.

Actually, those places want people working PT so they don't have to provide benefits. A lot of workers have a hard time making ends meet because their hours get cut last minute. A lot of the big chains use "just in time" scheduling - so workers don't know their schedules until the last minute. Can you imagine planning life/childcare/school without knowing your hours until the day before? Awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think, over the past 10 years, so much of getting a job has come down to connections. You either have them through your parents or through an internship.

Most internships are now unpaid and uber competitive. To get a good one, you need to have experience that readily applies (or a family/friend connection). This means kids have to start taking on more "serious" jobs earlier and earlier. There is no time to wait tables or work retail because those jobs no longer are good enough to help you make your way into a serious job.

I don't think you need connections to get a job at the local movie theater or fast food joint. I think you need a parent to push their lazy kids to get off their asses and out of the house.

I get what you are trying to say but really how many kids are getting internships and building their Linked-in profiles at 16? Most people aren't doing internships until they are 20 or 21 at the earliest.

And what are your kids doing? Just mind your own business and take care of what YOUR kids are doing. Thank you!

Not hanging out with your spoiled and clueless kids!

My kids are not spoiled and entitled. Way to make assumptions just because they don't work fast food. They have learning differences and need the time to study. One acts and is in shows and the other is an artist. They do chores around the house and are a joy to me and my DH. Hopefully, we don't know you either. You sound like a peach.

[Anonymous]

29 Ohioan here. I worked at T.G.I. Friday’s in high school as a hostess. Overall it detracted me from time spent on studies and had adverse consequences. I don’t think I want my son to work during the school year. I would be ok with tutoring. I’m hoping he grows up to be good with numbers like his dad. My husband tutored math/ statistics starting from middle school to his PhD program. Fast food is gross and I don’t want my son working or eating there.

[Anonymous]

Those jobs are now held (largely) by adult immigrants, displacing American kids. I went back to the fast food place where I worked in 1982 -- all immigrants now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think, over the past 10 years, so much of getting a job has come down to connections. You either have them through your parents or through an internship.

Most internships are now unpaid and uber competitive. To get a good one, you need to have experience that readily applies (or a family/friend connection). This means kids have to start taking on more "serious" jobs earlier and earlier. There is no time to wait tables or work retail because those jobs no longer are good enough to help you make your way into a serious job.

I don't think you need connections to get a job at the local movie theater or fast food joint. I think you need a parent to push their lazy kids to get off their asses and out of the house.

I get what you are trying to say but really how many kids are getting internships and building their Linked-in profiles at 16? Most people aren't doing internships until they are 20 or 21 at the earliest.

And what are your kids doing? Just mind your own business and take care of what YOUR kids are doing. Thank you!

Not hanging out with your spoiled and clueless kids!

My kids are not spoiled and entitled. Way to make assumptions just because they don't work fast food. They have learning differences and need the time to study. One acts and is in shows and the other is an artist. They do chores around the house and are a joy to me and my DH. Hopefully, we don't know you either. You sound like a peach.

Precious and sensitive snowflakes. Don't worry - if our paths did cross we would never socialize. My kids are being prepped for the real world not protected from it. Eventually your artist kids will need to get a job in the service industry unless you are planning to keep them protected under your roof forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was here in DC area in the 1980s.
Those jobs (while sometimes crappy) were seen by all as spending money and free food.
I attended a Catholic High School where tuition was not cheap.
Whether working at the country club or working fast food. A job was a job.
Everyone was expected to have some sort of part time job.

When did this all change?

when illegal immigration started overwhelming our culture.

did you work with all older immigrants at the local restaurant as a high school kid?

No I worked with other americans. Now a US citizen is out of place in a local restaurant.

we screwed an entire generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This was here in DC area in the 1980s.
Those jobs (while sometimes crappy) were seen by all as spending money and free food.
I attended a Catholic High School where tuition was not cheap.
Whether working at the country club or working fast food. A job was a job.
Everyone was expected to have some sort of part time job.

When did this all change?

when illegal immigration started overwhelming our culture.

did you work with all older immigrants at the local restaurant as a high school kid?

No I worked with other americans. Now a US citizen is out of place in a local restaurant.

we screwed an entire generation.

Oh please. I worked at Wendy's in Fairfax in 1987 and probably 90 percent of the people I worked with were immigrants. The only US born white people were the managers, a few high school students, and the guy on prison work release. Those immigrants worked their tails off and I had an enormous amount of respect for them.