KC is right. If you were closer, I would come over and work for that wage. I would bring my Stihl BR 800 leaf blower and do the leaves in a fraction of the time if you were willing to pay for my oil and gas. I am experienced and do my own leaves (just did them)...so no training required. You would not have to give me water, time for lunch and I would be on time.

For $8.50 an hour?

One can have quality, fast, or cheap.
Pick any two. Not all three.
That is the law.

Something went wrong but I'm not pointing any fingers.
It should have been a good result for all.
And that result (i.e. human interaction and learning for a kid trying to make it on his own) would have lasted longer than the next corner store.

Younger teens don't have many options for paying work until they reach 16. I think it shows character just for the kid to show up, and try to work...many wouldn't. It's too bad the ole ball-n-chain helicopter mother still needs to be in charge, good luck to you.

Sounds like almost $10 ($8.50 hr +$1 raise + bonus):
"When this one first started I paid him $8.50/hr and usually rounded up at the end of his shift. This Spring I gave him a $1/hr raise. I also would give him a 'bonus' if the work was extra hard or he worked a full day and did well."

That is an awfully good wage for a youngster.

Long long ago (1979 or so) one of my good friends owned a lawn sprinkler business. He hired a lot of "day workers" to dig trenches, and clean out trenches dug by machine. All of them wanted to be paid at the end of the day. If he needed to finish a project on a deadline he would hire me to did ditches on the weekend, and I did it mostly as a favor to help a friend. The cash was not bad, but I always thought of my home room school teacher in high school saying the world needs ditch diggers too the students that failed the tests. I knew what school teachers in Alabama at the time made, and I was making more than she did, as a ditch digger. I was really happy to put down the shovel and go to my full time job however.

Anytime someone of the crew stopped for a short break or to have some water in the 100+ heat, they would yell out "city worker" and take a break and act lean on the shovel and drink water.

I put in my own lawn sprinkler system at home 22 years ago. That was enough ditch digging to last me a lifetime. Never again.

I began mowing lawns at 12-13 for cash .... 100+ degrees in the hot sun... in the snow, up the hill in all directions... barefoot :D.

I had it made-in-the-shade too .... 'cause my parents taught me well ;).

OK All, Follow-up today. I texted the young man I let go Sat morning - to come get his check I left for him and if he had any questions. Nope, thanks was his reply. Just then I received a message from my Nextdoor app for help-wanted, it was a woman who messaged me for her 50 year old tenant whos was of all things, on Disability...……. but was available to work.....for me.

I emailed her back saying he was the complete opposite of what were looking for and doing hard physical work - he might injure himself, thanks. And yet another picture of people on 'disability'...………..awesome, our tax dollars at 'not work'.

Later in the morning I received a email where the Grandmother was responding for her grandson who was 13 and wanted to work. So I set up an 'interview' late Saturday evening. His dad brings him over, they seemed polite, asking if they should take their shoes off? I said, no that's ok, let's go in the kitchen, sit down and talk. First questions I ask the kid why does he want to work, what's the goal? He replied "A PlayStation game console and some type of game(s)" to go with it.
I said great, you want to work to earn money to buy this, correct? He replied "Yes!" I then say, OK, that's your motivation to work - I can supply the work, a good environment, but the one thing I can't do is provide what motivates you to want to work, understand? he said "Yes, he understands"

I look over at dad and he is grinning ear to ear so I know it's going well so far. I explain I'll start him at the bottom of our pay range ($8.50/hr) because of his age and relatively no experience with what we need done. I then ask does he have experience with computers, programs, and cell phone apps? Well, he lights up and "Yes!" Me: "Well, if we had jobs that required those skills your worth and the pay would go up, understand? He says "....yes I understand"

I also tell him there are bonuses and tips if he does well. That there are goals in addition to his hourly wage to go above just working along. Now dad is really on board and we chat for a few mins.

I told him he's hired, that we'll try him out to see if it is a good fit for both of us. He is to be there 11:00am, arrive 10 mins early because early = on time for the job and work to 4:30. Then dad chimes in with why that is important. I told him when he gets up, check the weather, dress appropriately, bring food and water and gloves.

So here's the good part. I see them pull in yesterday morning, Kid rolls out with a sack of stuff in his hand, walks up to the door and mom...……. pulls out and leaves...…………….!!!! We talk for a few minutes I show him my property boundaries, what I want him to do, why and what the days' goal is.

I then show him two rakes that I had pulled out for him, his weapons if you will. I said " One rake is called a 'spring rake' and explained why, the other steel or 'hard' rake" After that I asked which one does he want to use? He picked the correct one - OK, cool.

Overall he did very well considered he's a typical 4ft tall kid that age. He really did very well, did not complain and honestly accomplished more than I thought he would. I gave him directions, he followed them and listened. So all-in-all, I could not have asked for any more.

Just at the end of his 'shift' he started cleaning the rake fingers and rolling up the plastic tarp he was using, so points for that. Then we sat down on my front porch and I asked him how many hours did he work, what was the amount per hour we agreed on, and then how much do I owe him?

Had had the numbers right away, correct and I rounded that up to $50.00 cash. When I gave it to him, I told him always count your money in front of that person because people will cheat you, it's just the way the world is. You count it and say it back to them. if they give you a check, make sure you look at it, that it's the correct amount when they hand to you.

He was surprised because he knew it was more than he earned. I asked him how much did he have in his hands? He said $50 bucks. I said that's correct. The difference is a tip for working hard that day and getting a lot done. I then asked, do you want to come back again and work more? We have plenty of work and would like your help, that he had earned my respect - He seemed excited and said "Yes!"

Stay tuned - he is 'scheduled' to work the same hours this Saturday, providing it doesn't rain. I'm calling an early Win / Win...……………..

Sounds like you've found yourself a worker!

My wife said she could never work for me...……...

Nice! It sounds like the kid's parently have done a pretty good job.

Win-win-lose!

Poor fint :D

That's just awesome 'gambler :)!

That kid is going places, and has a good start. Between parents and grandma sounds like he's learning consistent and positive values; working for you [wanting to work for you] shows the kind of forward looking judgment I often don't see in 'adults' twice his age.

Yes - good stuff!

Fint is now jogging double-time with his 175lb. tool backpack somewhere near the Mississippi. Should be there within 8.4 hours. ;)

honest truth...I was fired from a lawn-mowing job once...because I was pushing the mower barefoot.:)

Great News, there is hope for the future.

awwww..i was rooting for the disabled dude.

Well done, AG.

For comparisons sake, in real world numbers, I made $1.60 an hour during the summer between my Junior and Senior years in High School as a bottom dwelling laborer at a golf course under construction.

1974. South Carolina. Hot, as humid as a warm shower.

My "job", along with a bunch of other HS kids, was to pick up roots in the fairways under construction, put them in a wicker basket, take them to the truck, dump basket of roots...repeat.

A month in I was promoted to helping level greens with a top dressing machine. $1.75 an hour. Do a little dance.

So, today: https://www.calculator.net/inflation-calculator.html?cstartingamount1=1.60&cinyear1=197 4&coutyear1=2021&calctype=1&x=64&y=13

Run the numbers. AG is fair.

BTW, quick Sea Story. My best friend, Brian (headed to UGA in the Fall), lipped off to the 21 year-old supervisor who had just graduated from Clemson with an ag degree. Brian was/is funny: Brian was fired.

The next morning, Brian shows up with his Mom, who I loved and knew for decades. We, the un-fired, are all watching. She gets the supervisor and the head greens man and tells them they will have no more problems with Brian if they give him a chance.

They did, back on the squad. No one gave Brian any crap because every one of our parents would have done the exact same thing.

Ok, young man, now get off my lawn!:rolleyes: