The Advantages of Teens Working at Fast Food Chains

Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal" and the National Academy of Sciences' report on child labor highlight the downside of teenagers working in fast food restaurants. Additional studies show that, with limited hours, there are advantages of teens working at fast food chains.

Benefits

Teens experience a greater sense of personal responsibility by saving for college, automobiles and paying their own way.

Teamwork

Fast food employees must learn to work together under sometimes stressful situations. They experience frustrations that are part of any customer-service job; yet they can experience job satisfaction and increased self-esteem.

Appreciation

Working in fast food chains gives real-world, minimum-wage experience. Teens better appreciate the value of education and career skills leading to higher pay.

Safety net

Experiencing the world of work before being thrown into it for real is like tightrope walking. Teens can try it while still safely living in their parents' homes.

Understanding

Seeing the inner workings of a franchise and the framework necessary in running a business leads to a better understanding of how the economy runs.

People skills

Teens working at fast food chains helps build life skills like diplomacy, courtesy and trustworthiness. On-the-job training in meeting the demands of the public helps build character.

References

• Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal; Eric Schlosser; 2001
• The First Job; Sandra Cisneros

Resources

• National Academy of Sciences