Hiring Wisdom: When Hiring Teens, Hire Their Parents Too

Because we live in a world of “helicopter parents” (parents who hover over and are involved in everything their children do) and because the number one reason teenagers quit or get fired is for not being able to work the hours required, when you find a teen you’d like to hire, it makes sense to contact their parents and ask if they are aware that their child has applied for a job.

Then ask a few questions to be sure the parents know what their child has committed them to do. For example, “John told me you will provide his transportation. Do you see this as a concern?” and “He will be finishing his shift at 11:00 p.m., does that work for you?”

If the parents are okay with both the job and the hours, give them the new hire’s schedule so they are involved in making sure their offspring shows up for work on time. You may also want to phone the parents the first two or three weeks to provide schedule updates; after that, most parents will keep track of their kid’s work schedule on their own.

The more you show a teen’s parents you care, the more they will care.