+208 I hate how certain jobs only hire at a certain age. Even if it's something easy like cashier or a pet store. What can an 18 year old do that a 16 or 15 year can't do? Besides isn't that age discrimination. amirite?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

It's liability. If a 16 year old messes up or steals they can't be full charged or held accountable. Especially there are laws about selling alcohol so if there is alcohol sold anywhere in the store/restaurant they have to be a certain age to serve it. But it's mostly about liability.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

There are a lot of minor laws that they have to follow, and can get in serious trouble if they don't. And age discrimination doesn't apply until you're after 40, I think. :]

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Vote.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

In the US, under 16's can't work mare than 8 hours a day, 18 hours a week, and 3 hours on a school day. There's also weird rules about when they get breaks and how long they have to be. It's much easier to just hire 16+. I'm not sure about the rules for 16-18, but I'm sure there are some.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Well for one thing, 15 year olds are extremely limited in how many hours they can work. Especially during the school year. There's also liability as the person above said. And basically, why would you want a 16 year old who's new to the job scene when you could have an 18 year old who has potential experience and has more maturity and responsibility? That's not against the law because the law against age discrimination only covers people over 40 like the person above said.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

YEA!!!! I DEMAND A REVOLUTION !!!!!

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I think this post could have gone without that last sentence.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

I mean, if it's a job selling alcohol, then I can understand. But I agree with the OP. If it's a cashier or something, why can't you work there? I can see the liability thing, and some businesses don't want to deal with the limited hours a student can work. But I'm trying to get a job to pay for gas and stuff for school, and literally every place around me is either experience only or 18+, even at Payless Shoes and Bath and Body Works and Kohl's. How do they expect teenagers to gain experience if they can't even work anywhere?

by Anonymous 12 years ago

This is the exact same problem for me. Whenever I apply the first thing they say is "Do you have any experience?" How am I supposed to get experience if no one will give me any?! That's why I volunteered at the charity store so that's my experience.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

Yeah, thank goodness for volunteering! I worked at a concession stand and a wedding tent (through one company) for four months, for over the summer, and that gave me experience with food, but I can't get a job in retail, which is the only thing near here. Maybe I should volunteer! haha

by Anonymous 12 years ago