For context, my first "job" was teaching primary school kids at a tutoring centre for $22/hr (2023-2024) & the other was at a cafe for $11 (2024-2025). For consistency’s sake when I say my "job" I will be referring to the cafe one (because it was the most exploitative and I didn’t recieve any training). The Fair Work Ombudsman of Australia states for my job description I should’ve been paid $16.60/hr, $19.92/hr on weekends and $33.20/hr on public holidays.
Also please keep in mind we were screaming at each other the whole time during this argument.
When I was working at the cafe my mum found me, my responsibilites were to clean, cook meals (like actually cook.. not reheat), deliver food, operate the cash register, serve customers, wash dishes, restock & take out the trash. I basically had to do everything with no training. Whenever I wasn’t sure where something was supposed to go, or when I didn’t know where an item was on the register (the products were VERY messily organised & hard to find), I was reprimanded and my already-below-minimum-wage was reducted based on my performance that day. I worked on weekends & holidays with no weekend rates nor holiday rates.
My mum was aware of all of this (and currently isn’t letting me get a real job) but complicit because she said I had no previous experience and said that not even McDonalds would hire me. I told her how it was her responsibility as an adult ensure I wasn’t being exploited and how she was compliant in the frankly – illegal business models this cafe was operating under. She kept telling me, finding me a job that:
\- provides a contract
\- pays their employees in a legal way (NOT under the counter cash)
\- gives holiday or weekend rates (that are legally required)
\- & doesn’t pay minimum wage
are outside her abilities and its not her fault I am "dissatisfied" with the job she got me.
I was 15 with no knowledge whatsoever about what a company’s legal responsibilites. Yet she said that in the real world plently of people are underpaid and one day if she died and I ended up homeless I would have to take the "illegal" job anyway.
She then questioned why I didn’t speak up when I was being paid more as a tutor and I stated that I yelled at her saying she was stupid. I was literally FOURTEEN at the time and didn’t know anything about wages nor legislation surrounding workplace law.
Eventually she said, “Fine if I’m so wrong when you go out into the real world looking for a job dont come crawling back to me begging for help.”
Then she kept saying how its normal as she is being currently underpaid – but she was literally offered a job position for 250k/yr and she refused because she wanted flexibility.
Ok? Did I find you that job thats underpaying you? Am I your employer? She just kept redirecting.
She said she tried her best but in my opinion its not good enough. She has a responsibility as a parent & failed to apologise nor own up to her mistakes. AITA and being ungrateful here?
1. McDonald’s will hire anybody. I worked for McDonalds when I was 16
2. Most places don’t pay different rates for weekends. But depending on where you work they might pay 1.5-2x base pay for holidays.
Australia.
Many countries have much better work laws than the USA
The legal age to start work in many Australian states is 15 years old. All have restrictions on hours and duties before 15.
Before people say it’s 14 years 9 months, at least in Victoria, that is just the point at which they won’t issue a child employment permit. Employers can accept an application but they cant start until 15.
The exception to this is kids working in a family business. Family is usually defined as immediate family (Parents or maybe Grandparents).
How did you not realize this was Australia when it was clearly written? I’m surprised you didn’t say the federal minimum wage is only $7.25 so OP makes more than that.
NTA at all sounds like your mom used you as a pawn for her own guilt trip while ignoring the real issue of exploitation it’s not ungrateful to want fair treatment and decent pay, especially when you’re still a kid trying to figure things out.
INFO
You were earning more and had better working conditions as a tutor, but you’re blaming your mother for what you were paid and suffered at the cafe. If you could not tell that one job was clearly superior to the other, how were you tutoring anyone?
It sounds like OP is only 15 years old and has zero say in their life.
YTA If you’re old enough to work a job you’re old enough to find one yourself. It is nice when parents can help us navigate this space but they are under absolutely no obligation to protect you from exploitation. It would be very weird and inappropriate for your mum to go and fight your battles at work.
Most small hospitality businesses will pay under the table and exploit their staff. If you don’t like it try getting a job at a big franchise like McDonald’s. If you have an internet account to post on reddit you can submit your resume to their portal
Also stop screaming at your mum
Why aren’t you looking for another job? It’s highly unusual that a parent gets their kid a job.
YTA…get your own job and dont switch to a lower paid job unless it is a better fit for your career goals.
Your mom tried, imperfectly but she tried. You’re experienced enough now that you dont need her help….
We are missing stuff here. Why is your mom making you work this job? Is the cafe owned by a friend of hers or something?
She made you quit the tutoring job to take the Cafe job?
And your Mom says it’s not under the table? Is it? Are you getting legal wages?
I’m thinking NTA if you are 15 and reliant on your Mom for everything.
Girl… go out and find your own job. It’s not on her sholders to find you one .. you are acting entitled and spoiled. If you don’t like the job , your mother found you , then go out and find yourself one. You are being ungrateful…. it’s not her job to find you employment, and it’s not her job to keep you somewhere where you feel exploited. Find yourself a better paying job before you quit the one you’re at.
It sounds like your mom did you a favor by finding you a job. The job was supposed to train you adequately and they did not. Be mad at your employer but thank your mom.