A fair day's pay

Taking on a part-time job is an important milestone for a young person, but they need to know their rights before they start.

- 

When I started my first part-time job in a light-fitting factory, I was so happy to have a job and to be earning money that I didn't think about whether the amount was fair.

I loved the independence of having some money. Not that it was much. I was 15 and paid the lowest wage in the factory hierarchy. I didn't get money for overtime and had limited work breaks. I didn't dream of negotiating with my employer.

Part-time work is a rite of passage and a formative financial step for teenagers, with about 500,000 young adults under 17 in the workforce, often in retail and fast food.

The early jobs in my life, which included restaurant kitchens, cafeterias and kiosks, expanded my world beyond school, family and friends. I met older people with different lives, personalities and experiences to mine. I made new friends. I learnt skills such as problem-solving and working quickly within limited timeframes.

The harsh reality

All too often, though, my bosses were a disappointment. Some took advantage of my inexperience and underpaid me and my young coworkers.

This is still widespread. While one of my kids had a great job for five years with an understanding boss who paid all entitlements, another had a series of bosses who ripped her off. One upmarket cafe never paid her and whenever she turned up to collect her money, the boss was never around. Another boss at a health food store said the business wasn't making enough money to pay her properly, but she dug in, and the owner drip-fed what she was owed.