this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
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- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
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- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
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I think teenagers having a first job in highschool is an important milestone that we should encourage.
There should clearly be protections in place. I'm not arguing otherwise. But I don't get this sentiment of it being tantamount to child abuse to let a 16yo get a job at their local movie theater after school to earn some extra pocket change.
I don't see that argument being made. The changes talked about in this post is them removing protections that are reasonable.
I mean, the comment literally right above mine is about how if we let kids work then they're gonna be molested by their bosses. That has nothing to do with any of the restrictions being rolled back.
And look, I'm not campaigning against any of the protections that got rolled back. I think it's bad they did, and would be totally for them being reinstated. 1000%.
And maybe I'm just off base. I feel like I have seen a lot of "children shouldn't be allowed to get jobs" rhetoric of late in this context. But it's entirely possible that most people are totally on board with 16yo's having jobs, and what I'm seeing is just a vocal minority.
You should have replied to that person, then.
That's not the only comment taking a similar position though. Just an example. I made my own top level comment to address something that seems like a more general trend when this issue comes up.
That's what work permits are for you dingus. I got my first job at 15 and plenty of protections were still in place. This only lets children be exploited and nothing else.
You are an idiot if you think that children won't be exploited. There needs to be specific work her3 restrictions for this position to be anywhere near reasonable. Did you look up if there are work hour restrictions? Did you look up anything? If not shut up and let adults talk.
My brother in Christ, I literally say in the comment you replied to that all of the protections that were rolled back (including all the ones you just mentioned) are important, and that it's a bad thing they were removed.
Who are you even arguing against?
I agree. Children shouldn't have to work to support their families.
None of the regulations that were stripped away have anything to do with that though, as far as I can tell.
So that problem exists in any world where we let kids work at McDonald's for some spending money.
What you've just done is called a red herring argument. You made up a position that nobody actually holds and then refuted it.
Please browse the comment section. I don't think you'll see anyone saying that high school students should never be allowed to have jobs.
That's not a red herring, that's a strawman. A red herring is a narrative plot device.
I think you’re missing some key components of the law they passed. This isn’t the after school job we had as teens when it’s not bound to only after school hours, overnight work, etc.
I should have been more clear I suppose. I support all of the restrictions that were in place, and I think it's bad they were rolled back.
My response wasn't intended to say the changes were bad, but was rather in response to a general sentiment that I was seeing in the comment section. Both on this post and others when the topic of minors in the work force comes up.