Fruits of their young labour

By ANGELA McCARTHY

Western Springs College Year 12 student Tom Miskell has gained a lot from working part time at Woolworths for the last 22 months.

"I'm more comfortable about handling money, I've learned about customer service and I think I'm more confident dealing with people," says Miskell who turns 17 next month.

Then there is the reality of turning up regularly, or "accepting the commitment" as he puts it.

Miskell works seven hours a week, after school on Monday and Tuesday, earning $7.62 an hour.

"I looked for a job because I didn't like always taking money off my parents," Miskell says. "I like being more independent."

It's not only the students doing the after-school jobs who can see the benefits.

"Exposure to the work environment is really important to students, who don't always have a realistic view of the workplace and jobs," says Jillian Paul, human resources manager of Progressive Enterprises.

"Over 25 per cent of our 18,000 employees are high-school and tertiary students."

Burger King NZ human resources manager Ruth Baker says part-time work is an ideal first step into the workplace. His company has just under 3000 employees, many of them school students.

Both Baker and Paul say students develop work skills, such as customer service, communication skills, team work and time management.

Work responsibility is different from school, says Paul. "In the workplace if you do something wrong, someone else has to re-do it for you. If you don't turn up, it puts pressure on others and you don't get paid."

She finds students who haven't been achieving at school often gain a lot of confidence from achieving at work.

Howick College head of careers and transition Adrienne Davies is also an advocate of part-time work for students.

However, she says students sometimes take on too much work, get behind at school and stop reaching their academic potential. She recommends they take on no more than about 10 hours a week during school term.

Progressive Enterprises doesn't have an hour limit, leaving it to the student and parents to decide. But Paul expects managers to question if students take on a lot of hours.

Burger King has a four-hour minimum (one shift). "School is the priority and managers have responsibility to monitor hours," says Baker. "It isn't in anyone's interest to have an employee who is too tired."

Mt Roskill Grammar School principal Ken Rapson is concerned about the hours some of his students work.

"Some have to work to support themselves or their families, so the issue is complex and it is not easy to have blanket rules," he says.

But it becomes a problem when work takes priority over homework and students arrive at school tired or late.

"Students can balance two hours of work with homework, but not a 5pm to midnight shift."

Mt Albert Grammar School Career Centre advisers Mandy Bunce and Wendy Drumm see a lot of positives in part-time work, but the hours and some safety issues can concern them.

They say parents should supervise their children's applications for part-time work and ensure they are aware of issues such as safety, holiday pay and hours of work.

Young people sometimes ring legal service YouthLaw about part-time work, when they have been sacked, had their conditions of work changed, are experiencing harassment, or just want to know about casual agreements and recovering wages and holiday pay, says YouthLaw solicitor John Hancock.

"Young people are often unaware of their rights. Many don't sign an agreement for example. Even so, they're protected by the Employment Relations Act."

And he points out that teenagers under 16 have no statutory protection under the Minimum Holidays Act, making them vulnerable to exploitation.

What about students who can't find work? Many schools offer transition education, which includes work experience.

Howick College Year 11 and 12 students get a day's work experience over the year. Howick students who don't intend to enter tertiary study, go out two or three days a week.

"Employers are very obliging and willing to help students," says Davies. "We have quite a directory now of businesses happy to offer work experience."

The Government's Gateway pilot includes work experience and TMP Workchoice Day offers Year 12 students (6th formers) a one-day look-see at various workplaces.

But careers advisers also encourage parents to help their teenagers, by suggesting work experience in their workplace or with friends and family.

"Any workplace exposure is helpful," says Davies.

Minimum pay

* 16- and 17-year-olds $6.80 an hour

* 18 and older $8.50 an hour

* Entitled to the same benefits as other employees, such as holiday pay and sick pay

Youthlaw

Lowdown - Citizens Advice Bureau

Urge/Whakamanawa