Auction goers: Tip your helpers? (rant)

[mom'sfolly]

Chickenmaven,

I think the one question that hasn't been asked is what your son promised his buddy. Did your son approach his friend with a "my mom needs a little help this weekend, can you do it", or did he say something like "I've been helping my mom with her new business, she's paying me really well, want to help on Saturday"? These two questions set up a completely different set of conditions, one where the kid is volunteering out of the goodness of his heart, the other where he is expecting to be paid. The fact that your son said he wasn't paid enough makes me think he set up conditions where his friend and he expected to be paid more. You said your son rounds up the crew, maybe he's been promising more and feels guilty because his friend ended up getting less than your son thought he should.

Just another point of view to look at.

I also think that the kid spent 7 hours of his day working for you, and minimum wage would have been appropriate. Even if you thought he was doing you a favor, he sacrificed his day for you.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

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Sounds like the kid was nice even if he did feel cheated.







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That should have never been said with the boy still there. I bet the boy saw that as bragging about how much he got out of him.... The fact that it was said with him around may have came across as flaunting it in his face.

 

[newchickgal]

With getting min. wage you have to remember that taxes and soc. sec. are taken out so the actual take home pay is less than min. wage. Plus one has to provide meals and snacks for them selves, the boss doesn't do that! Not anyone I worked for anyway.

 

[pdsavage]

Shoot my kids would have worked the whole day for you for 40 bucks and food.....

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
Wow. How sad that you feel that way....

We trade jobs all of the time...DH helped put a roof on a buddy's house last week and got nothing other than free meals and snacks.
Same buddy will be coming over and helping me if needed while DH is away at a work related training for 4 weeks during the busiest time of the year here at our house.
I will be sure to have some lemonade made for him but I wont be pulling out my wallet.

Same here! My brother's have helped out many of thier friends parents with odd jobs and things like heavy lifting, minor repairs, and have seldom, if ever gotten paid. Over the years many of my brother's friends have helped us out at our place with similar things, we seldom paid them anything, and most of them refused pay when it was offered, even for full days of hard work! I agree with some who have said this is not about age. It isn't, it's about character.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

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Interesting.

When the attitude is directed at a teenager, it's okay, but if it is directed at you, it's sad.

Fortunately, I don't actually feel that way. It's called satire.

The point is, you TRADE jobs. I'm happy to trade, that way, both parties go away happy. But I am seeing a lot of the attitude that teenagers are there to provide free labor and should be grateful for the opportunity to provide slave labor. The teens DO need to get something out of it commiserate with the value the time had for them. A person gave up a whole day to do work. I know I wouldn't give up a whole day for $40 and some ice cream to go work for a stranger, why should I expect someone else to? I'd do it for family, a friend, or a neighbor that I could count on to do the same for me, but it didn't seem the OP even knew the kid.

 

[Prettiest Frog]

Quote:
That should have never been said with the boy still there. I bet the boy saw that as bragging about how much he got out of him.... The fact that it was said with him around may have came across as flaunting it in his face.

Exactly. Someone treating me that way as a teen would NEVER have me do work for them again, period.

 

[Camelot Farms]

I have 2 teenagers and I teach them to help out their anyone who needs it....whether they know them or not. Just as I would.

And on that note...I hope that the OP got some good information from the thread and will be able to communicate her needs with her potential helpers in the future. I am sure that she had no intention of short changing anyone.

 

[DuckLady]

Let's stay on topic, please.

Argumentative and trolling posts are not helpful to the OP. Please take private squabbles private.

 

[Chickenmaven]

I have found most all of these comments helpful. BTW - according to my son, he asked the boy if he could come Hang out with & help (my son) for the day.

Also, I see the perspective taken by those who took issue with my husband's comment. I did not take it as trolling at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and we all vary on what would offend.