Would you punish college son or daughter for getting fired from summer internship?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you get fired from an internship? We get a lot of summer interns but I have never seen anyone getting fired. Sex in the office? Getting drunk in the office? Drug??

I've had to deal with some real dud interns, but never fired any of them. Been sorely tempted, but just remind myself they are leaving at the end of the summer and I never have to deal with them again. So I, too, am wonder what exactly OP's kid did to get fired!

Same at my large IT consulting firm. I’ve never heard of an intern being fired - just not offered a position at the end of their internship. I think you’d have to do something pretty bad to get fired along the lines of breaching client data, stealing, falsely recording work hours, etc.

I heard that the intern who added golf clubs and a second eagle head to the US Seal... that intern got fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on reason.

Fired for cause, or laid off because not enough work available etc?

Fired for cause.

I would sure a hell make sure the young adult understands fully how to do better in the future, and how this could have long-reaching consequences. Hopefully it's low stakes, but when I've had lackluster intern, I've declined to serve as a reference and I've also made a note about their eligibility for re-hire within a company. Hopefully this was low-stakes, but a teachable event :/ How is your young adult reacting? Does s/he understand what happened? Was it truly egregious, or... employer could over-react also, and an intern is easier to fire than to put resources into training better, so if it were an honest mistake, lack of knowledge, not asking for help instead of trying something... versus showing up for work drunk, surfing the internet all day, propositioning a boss...

I suspect it was showing up drunk or absenteeism but I have legitimately no idea. It could be anything. Child doesn’t know we know, yet.

Is this OP? OP, if you think your child showed up drunk to work, or was so hung over he or she could not show up, you need to be thinking about how to get them help for their addiction, not "punishing" them.

It seems like there are a ton of relevant details here that you are leaving out, starting with why "drunk" is your go to assumption.

If you think your kid has a drinking problem, worry about that. The internship is nothing compared to the underlying problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD has an internship. Last year hours were flexible, come in at 11am and leave at 7pm. Same lab with a few different people this year and hours are 10-5 with some flex available. The only intern who has ever been fired drove on campus for work and forgot about the gun he left in the trunk. Fired on the spot after a security sweep. Even the intern who threw a fit and demanded (and got) a new MacBook and then subsequently “lost” it in an uber, didn’t get fired.

Context?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you get fired from an internship? We get a lot of summer interns but I have never seen anyone getting fired. Sex in the office? Getting drunk in the office? Drug??

I've had to deal with some real dud interns, but never fired any of them. Been sorely tempted, but just remind myself they are leaving at the end of the summer and I never have to deal with them again. So I, too, am wonder what exactly OP's kid did to get fired!

Same at my large IT consulting firm. I’ve never heard of an intern being fired - just not offered a position at the end of their internship. I think you’d have to do something pretty bad to get fired along the lines of breaching client data, stealing, falsely recording work hours, etc.

I heard that the intern who added golf clubs and a second eagle head to the US Seal... that intern got fired.

I would applaud that intern, not punish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you get fired from an internship? We get a lot of summer interns but I have never seen anyone getting fired. Sex in the office? Getting drunk in the office? Drug??

I've had to deal with some real dud interns, but never fired any of them. Been sorely tempted, but just remind myself they are leaving at the end of the summer and I never have to deal with them again. So I, too, am wonder what exactly OP's kid did to get fired!

Same at my large IT consulting firm. I’ve never heard of an intern being fired - just not offered a position at the end of their internship. I think you’d have to do something pretty bad to get fired along the lines of breaching client data, stealing, falsely recording work hours, etc.

I heard that the intern who added golf clubs and a second eagle head to the US Seal... that intern got fired.

I would applaud that intern, not punish.

DP. Really? It is one thing to not support a value system. It is completely another to desecrate something that others value and hold in high stead. I know you think you're being "cute" and even probably that your snark is laudable but it actually is quite disgusting.

What is it of yours that you hold in high value that you would approve of someone violating? If you say 'nothing' then we know that the only thing you value is yourself. And that would be a sad testament to your lack of a value system.

That intern should not only have been fired but he or she should have been criminally prosecuted for vandalizing public property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you get fired from an internship? We get a lot of summer interns but I have never seen anyone getting fired. Sex in the office? Getting drunk in the office? Drug??

I've had to deal with some real dud interns, but never fired any of them. Been sorely tempted, but just remind myself they are leaving at the end of the summer and I never have to deal with them again. So I, too, am wonder what exactly OP's kid did to get fired!

Same at my large IT consulting firm. I’ve never heard of an intern being fired - just not offered a position at the end of their internship. I think you’d have to do something pretty bad to get fired along the lines of breaching client data, stealing, falsely recording work hours, etc.

I heard that the intern who added golf clubs and a second eagle head to the US Seal... that intern got fired.

I would applaud that intern, not punish.

DP. Really? It is one thing to not support a value system. It is completely another to desecrate something that others value and hold in high stead. I know you think you're being "cute" and even probably that your snark is laudable but it actually is quite disgusting.

What is it of yours that you hold in high value that you would approve of someone violating? If you say 'nothing' then we know that the only thing you value is yourself. And that would be a sad testament to your lack of a value system.

That intern should not only have been fired but he or she should have been criminally prosecuted for vandalizing public property.

You’re an idiot. Nothing was vandalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot stop laughing at this. What kind of person considers “punishing” an adult? I have grown kids. In a million years, punishment never would have entered my mind once they graduated from high school. Truly, I weep for the future.

If they are adults, then they are self-supporting and do not rely on you for money, housing, food, or other necessities.

If they do rely on you for those things, then they are not adults, and are subject to your discipline. If they don't like it, they can get a job and move out.

Dp. Is life always black and white for you? Just because you are the age of an adult does not mean you don't need support. Now if we wete talking about a thirty old that would be a different story.

Someone who is the age of an adult, but needs support, should understand, without even being told, that the support is provided with certain expectations, and if those expectations are not met, the support may be withdrawn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How can you get fired from an internship? We get a lot of summer interns but I have never seen anyone getting fired. Sex in the office? Getting drunk in the office? Drug??

I've had to deal with some real dud interns, but never fired any of them. Been sorely tempted, but just remind myself they are leaving at the end of the summer and I never have to deal with them again. So I, too, am wonder what exactly OP's kid did to get fired!

Same at my large IT consulting firm. I’ve never heard of an intern being fired - just not offered a position at the end of their internship. I think you’d have to do something pretty bad to get fired along the lines of breaching client data, stealing, falsely recording work hours, etc.

I heard that the intern who added golf clubs and a second eagle head to the US Seal... that intern got fired.

I would applaud that intern, not punish.

DP. Really? It is one thing to not support a value system. It is completely another to desecrate something that others value and hold in high stead. I know you think you're being "cute" and even probably that your snark is laudable but it actually is quite disgusting.

What is it of yours that you hold in high value that you would approve of someone violating? If you say 'nothing' then we know that the only thing you value is yourself. And that would be a sad testament to your lack of a value system.

That intern should not only have been fired but he or she should have been criminally prosecuted for vandalizing public property.

And how do you feel about our d-bag President? He desecrates everything he touches.

[Anonymous]

This is a very interesting thread. I work with millenials or the generation after. They tend to fall into two groups. The superstars who are high intelligence, hard working and ask challenging questions. Then all the others who work whatever hours they want, escalate everything to their bosses including interpersonal conflicts and only do minimal b/c they know they'll be applying out in 1-2 years. Who are the smart ones? I really don't know because the later may be realistic about corporate progression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a very interesting thread. I work with millenials or the generation after. They tend to fall into two groups. The superstars who are high intelligence, hard working and ask challenging questions. Then all the others who work whatever hours they want, escalate everything to their bosses including interpersonal conflicts and only do minimal b/c they know they'll be applying out in 1-2 years. Who are the smart ones? I really don't know because the later may be realistic about corporate progression.

Oversimplified drivel. I’m sure almost everyone here works with younger people. What you wrote is total crap.

[Anonymous]

Offer to let him live at home for a year and pay you rent. A high school acquaintance who wasn’t sure about college did that for a year. They made get get her own insurance, her own groceries, etc. She said she’d never worked so hard, or had so little money. At the end, her parents gave her the accrued rent money for tuition ( Paid directly to the school). In this day and age, I’d keep the kid on my insurance, and add that to the monthly bill.

If he doesn’t like that option, he’s also welcome to move out or go to rehab. (Barring a major medical condition like depression).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot stop laughing at this. What kind of person considers “punishing” an adult? I have grown kids. In a million years, punishment never would have entered my mind once they graduated from high school. Truly, I weep for the future.

If they are adults, then they are self-supporting and do not rely on you for money, housing, food, or other necessities.

If they do rely on you for those things, then they are not adults, and are subject to your discipline. If they don't like it, they can get a job and move out.

Dp. Is life always black and white for you? Just because you are the age of an adult does not mean you don't need support. Now if we wete talking about a thirty old that would be a different story.

Someone who is the age of an adult, but needs support, should understand, without even being told, that the support is provided with certain expectations, and if those expectations are not met, the support may be withdrawn.

If you are the pp that is not what you originally wrote. Given advance warning and expectations is fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD has an internship. Last year hours were flexible, come in at 11am and leave at 7pm. Same lab with a few different people this year and hours are 10-5 with some flex available. The only intern who has ever been fired drove on campus for work and forgot about the gun he left in the trunk. Fired on the spot after a security sweep. Even the intern who threw a fit and demanded (and got) a new MacBook and then subsequently “lost” it in an uber, didn’t get fired.

How can you “lose” a work laptop if it has that special marking or whatever that helps track it?

[Anonymous]

Only intern I know who got fired was sexually harassing another intern, who was a minor

[Anonymous]

People make mistakes, are immature, whatever. Help him learn from his mistakes. Punishment can distract from the important message and personal responsibility.