The Conversation (0)
Viral
Sinead Butler
Jun 11, 2021
People have been debating whether 14-year-old should be allowed to work
Getty Images
A father has sparked fierce debate online over children in the workforce, after posting on Facebook about his 14-year-old son working “every day” at Burger King.
He explains how his son has a part-time job at the fast-food chain, and that he works “everyday he can.”
This also includes weekends “when most kids are out enjoying the summer he goes in early and stays late almost every time he works.”
Though the father insists that his teenage son “loves every minute of it.”
“Making his own money, saving for a car, and being responsible in his decisions, become a respectable young man!!! I couldn’t be more proud of him”
“Some of y’all lazy, grown ass people out there should take notes!! #prouddad,” he added.
Though it appears that some disagree with the father’s views, as the original post went viral when it was re-shared on Twitter by a user who described it as “depressing.”
god this is depressing https://t.co/d3B5lArxQC— c a i t (yassified) (@c a i t (yassified)) 1623276501
More than 165,000 people on the site have liked the tweet and others agree that the 14-year-old was missing out on his childhood.
@kittynouveau I feel this kid is missing out on a lot of his childhood I mean if he asked to do it he can do what h… https://t.co/HsotFrnITz— NeonSlug (@NeonSlug) 1623277068
@kittynouveau So fun fact, this type of stuff causes psychological damage in adult life. As it turns out when kids… https://t.co/ezsa9IL3mw— Purple Panda (@Purple Panda) 1623325449
@kittynouveau my kid has no friends, social life or hobbies, take notes grown adults!— ❄️💙 winter wife 💙❄️ (@❄️💙 winter wife 💙❄️) 1623276954
@kittynouveau The dad even acknowledges that kids would usually be having fun with their friends during summer, but… https://t.co/CoQsfEONGC— Jamie (@Jamie) 1623340960
@kittynouveau Don't states with laws like this let companies pay 14-16 year olds less than min wage? Poor kid is mi… https://t.co/Sv9rnNJBXP— 2022 Jump Street (@2022 Jump Street) 1623277636
@kittynouveau I was encouraged both by management and by my parents to overwork myself. I think it was seen as “lea… https://t.co/KJZToH1J0r— August (@August) 1623311980
Some have even argued that this behaviour advocates child labour practices, and criticized the US law system for allowing this to happen.
In the US, 14-year-olds are allowed to work but only for a limited number of hours, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
But, this also depends on the occupation too.
The people mocking others for being concerned over this kid's welfare are ridiculous. How is this CHILD working PAR… https://t.co/QeE1xXkfce— • 🐾 Southpauz 🐾 • (@• 🐾 Southpauz 🐾 •) 1623382145
Glorifying child labour 😩😩 https://t.co/lvRDdcYtCt— Jakub Bobro (@Jakub Bobro) 1623343133
Not grown ass people praising child labour and exploitation https://t.co/uWnTxpvtnk— lina (@lina) 1623408837
Meanwhile, many discussed on how the father’s praises reflects society’s current attitudes towards employment and earning money.
our fetishization of employment is really gross https://t.co/CYHAZG7tiJ— colin (@colin) 1623362090
Struggle porn is always disgusting https://t.co/Ne0yg2xhRW— That Girl You Knew I Was (@That Girl You Knew I Was) 1623340005
Though, equally there were a lot of people who commented sharing their own experiences working at a similar young age.
Each with varying opinions on whether they found getting jobs at as a teen beneficial.
@notthe_p @kittynouveau Same!! I was forced to start working at 16 and i was mad about it back then, but tbh it gav… https://t.co/kpGpzLwJov— giggles (@giggles) 1623341063
@kittynouveau I started working for my own money at age 12, and I agree that making your own money teaches you mone… https://t.co/966OJlxACc— Bastthekitty (@Bastthekitty) 1623342826
@kittynouveau I got forced into near full-time work at 15 bc my mom wanted me to be this kid. It was one of the mos… https://t.co/ggrH76HXyy— captain JORTS (@captain JORTS) 1623321279
@kittynouveau My first job was at 14 and, while I chose to get one, I wouldn't recommend it to any 14 yo now. The s… https://t.co/LuioXVZBHV— A N Stetzl 📖 (@A N Stetzl 📖) 1623384726
However, there were people that didn’t see a problem with the child working to earn some money.
@kittynouveau I think it's great that his kid has a job. Kudos. The thing is, this kid doesn't have bills to pay.… https://t.co/5twZjh4J5n— Wash your hands and mind your own business, please (@Wash your hands and mind your own business, please) 1623317292
@kittynouveau @iceburghNHL This is fantastic. People are acting like this young man was sent to prison or a summer… https://t.co/wWuPmXAe8t— Rich Wittebort (@Rich Wittebort) 1623344732
Depressing? Seems like he’s got his head screwed on properly to me. His parents raised a hustler. https://t.co/kEVrx6C4e0— Pretty Boy Floyd (@Pretty Boy Floyd) 1623335906
The debate come as reports show the US labor force shrank slightly — by 53,000 workers — in May.
It appears that the labor force are returning to work slower than anticipated after the pandemic.
As there are about 3.5 million fewer people in the workforce relative to February 2020, CNBC reported.