Tired of this...

[Andara Bledin]

Ok, I know a lot of kids thing their parents are unreasonable. But in my professional opinion,

Octopi, your parents are being completely unreasonable.

Since the 90's, no one in hiring really care how many jobs you've worked if you show good reasons for moving around. Good reasons include losing the job for one reason or another (not fired! shop closes, temp work, ect.) or bettering yourself money- or time-wise. Your parents are stuck in a different time, and do not have a grasp of the realities of the current workplace.

Your parents are officially broken and are basing their decisions on the wrong era.

The advice Geek King gave is good. Even professional hiring publications are telling hiring departments not to discount people just because they've moved around a bit.

One article rebutting an article against job hoppers in start up companies noted that loyalty has to be a two-way street and that employees have to consider their own well-being before that of the company.

Oh, and nothing you do before you leave high school (and in some cases, college) tends to matter, anyway, unless it's something phenomenal.

^-.-^

[Andara Bledin]

Apparently, I need to learn discipline, and quitting at "Seven Flags" means I'd be running away from that job. However, where is the line between learning discipline and being taken advantage of? They're absolutely refusing to listen.

Ugh. I feel so sorry for you.

My ex had an uncle that was of the same mindset. He actually worked himself sick in his own business because of it, and couldn't see anything wrong with actively causing himself to be unable to work by working too hard. >.<

Unfortunately, you are living in an information age with parents who are trying to make you conform to industrial-age standards, and it appears that they don't have any interest in pulling their heads out of the sand to take a look at the new world around them.

I don't have any advice, however, on how you can manage to let them know that there is a difference between "discipline" and "bending over and taking it," as they seem dedicated to not learning anything different than what they expect.

I wish you luck and suggest that you display actual discipline by saving your money in a manner where it won't be taken away or lost so that should the need and opportunity arise, you can take more control over your own life.

^-.-^

[octopi23]

Ugh. I feel so sorry for you.

My ex had an uncle that was of the same mindset. He actually worked himself sick in his own business because of it, and couldn't see anything wrong with actively causing himself to be unable to work by working too hard. >.<

Unfortunately, you are living in an information age with parents who are trying to make you conform to industrial-age standards, and it appears that they don't have any interest in pulling their heads out of the sand to take a look at the new world around them.

I don't have any advice, however, on how you can manage to let them know that there is a difference between "discipline" and "bending over and taking it," as they seem dedicated to not learning anything different than what they expect.

I wish you luck and suggest that you display actual discipline by saving your money in a manner where it won't be taken away or lost so that should the need and opportunity arise, you can take more control over your own life.

^-.-^

Oh, and the kicker? Once I get my DL in two weeks, I pay for my own gas. Keep in mind I'd save 30 miles commute (about 1.5 gal) a day. Fuck my parents! I can't even find a pretense to quit.

[searssoulslave]

I'm having a hard time believing that the amusement park isn't violating some kind of law against minors labor. When I was 17 I HAD to take a break after 5 hours that was at least 30 minutes long and was not allowed to work past 9 PM because of school. Your parents sound like their resentful of the fact that you are questioning their authority and on that bias are unwilling to consider your viewpoint. I'm of the mindset that you should go and try and get another job library or not that is more accommodating for you. If they expect you to act like an adult (Pay for your own gas, have a job) then they should treat your opinions as an adults too. Don't just quit because that just shows what they are essentially arguing that you're being immature and undisciplined. Find something else THEN quit. But I've always been a bit rebellious so be careful about my advice ok?

[AccountingDrone]

Oh, and the kicker? Once I get my DL in two weeks, I pay for my own gas. Keep in mind I'd save 30 miles commute (about 1.5 gal) a day. Fuck my parents! I can't even find a pretense to quit.

You are 16, the job at the library is close to you. Dude, grow a pair, quit, tell your parental units to sod off and get a freaking bicycle and cycle to work. Unless you are a gimp like me, do it. I started working at age 15, and rode a bike to work for the first year and saved until I did the emancipated youth thing at 16 and moved out, and got a car with a full drivers license. What can they do, lock you in your bedroom? If they try, call the cops for unlawful restraint. Locking you up for quitting a job and getting a different one would be laughed at so hard the cops would probably fall down and pee themselves.

[MaseMan]

Yeah, I think you may just need to pull rank on your parents on this one. Do the interview at the library and see what happens.

[Mikkel]

Yeah, I think you may just need to pull rank on your parents on this one. Do the interview at the library and see what happens.

I don't know, I think octopi23s parents are wrong but if they can be convinced in a month or so, the consequences would be so much more pleasant.
There are so many ways parents can punish a teenager without being legally abusive.

[XCashier]

Might I suggest asking one of them just come to the park one random work day (preferably a busy one) -- and have them observe you from a distance? Preferably when you don't know that they're actually present, if possible. It sounds to me like they simply do not BELIEVE that the place is all that bad.

My parents did not believe how awful my customers were when I worked at the Drug Store From Hell. People who are not sucky customers themselves do not comprehend that there are people who are. It Does Not Compute.

I like this idea, of having them observe you on a standard day and seeing what your job is like. Some folks just cannot understand anything outside their own mindset until they actually see it with their own two eyes.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope you can get that library job. It sounds really nice (I'd love a library job myself!)

[Justsomegirl]

If it maks your resume look weaker don't put it on there. And I think you are young yet and when you are older you won't need it anyways.

[Seshat]

And they wouldn't let me look for another one.

How can they stop you?

See if you have a contact - an uncle, an aunt, a friend of the family, a teacher's friend - in the headhunting industry. Basically, people who look for good people to take jobs for companies.

Have that person talk to your parents.

Or as others have said, just go ahead and do it. Present your parents with a fait accompli.

It may be worth considering talking to family friends, parents of your friends, and relatives who live close by. Primarily because they may well be able to point out the changes in the world to your parents.

One option - not one to take lightly, but a legitimate option - is to move out and live for a couple of years with the family friends/friends' parents/relatives. Like I said, not something to take lightly, but at your age it's something that the legal system will support if you have reason. Requiring you to stay in an abusive work situation is a reason.

[Captain Trips]

I am confused by one point you said earlier -- your timesheet shows you clocked out 15 minutes after closing, but are often made to work another 45 minutes after that - and you said you are paid? How? You are paid by what is on your timesheet, and not by where you are at the time. So they are shorting you 45 minutes of pay.

I agree with the others. Quit. Go for the library. And you are 16 - your parents can NOT prevent you from looking for another job, although they can refuse to drive you to it. If the library is close, so what? AND it pays more. AND it looks better on a resume than a carny. And, and, and, ... there are no arguments against your leaving a shit job and going for a good one.

Your parents need to wake up. Perhaps you can get the assistance of someone they respect - a relative, clergy, etc.

[EricKei]

I am confused by one point you said earlier -- your timesheet shows you clocked out 15 minutes after closing, but are often made to work another 45 minutes after that - and you said you are paid? How?

Either they're making him work without pay -- which is illegal (note that "voluntarily" working without pay at a job where you normally get paid is still illegal (at least here); you have to explicitly sign up as an Unpaid Intern/Volunteer to legally work without pay) ... or they're paying him for work which has not been recorded -- which is probably illegal, as well.

YMMV by state and locale

[octopi23]

Either they're making him work without pay -- which is illegal (note that "voluntarily" working without pay at a job where you normally get paid is still illegal (at least here); you have to explicitly sign up as an Unpaid Intern/Volunteer to legally work without pay) ... or they're paying him for work which has not been recorded -- which is probably illegal, as well.

YMMV by state and locale

I'm getting paid for that extra time. I'm just getting told that I'm going to get out 45 minutes earlier than I really do.

[Magpie]

I think there might be some confusion here as to time sheet vs schedule. The impression I'm getting is that octopi is schedule to 15 minutes after closing, but clocks out 45 minutes later than that. Remember - my generation has never had time sheets. It's all stored electronically. (I lie, I have filled out time sheets. But those aren't what my pay is based on, except for the one place, and they were small enough that they not only had the option of getting a physical cheque, but that was the only way I could get paid).

[Darkforge]

just the one thing that I saw, the fair hires seasonal workers right?

On your CV having a summer job, (list it as such) isn't a problem, people know that places do seasonal jobs and expect them to be short lived. The best thing to do from one of those jobs is simply to get another one as soon as possible.

best of luck Octopi23