Hi all! I know I’m definitely not the usual demographic of this sub so apologies is this is the wrong place to have this conversation . I’m 16 years old and working in my first paid job (I have a year of retail volunteering experience). I currently work in a pub. I get 11 hours a week at £6.50 per hour and I was planning on asking for a pay raise but my family seem to think I’m being ridiculous.
Firstly, I work in horrible conditions. During my shift today I saw the thermometer hit 38 degrees C (100 degrees f). Due to my short shifts (3.5 and 4 hours) I get no breaks from the heat. My responsibilities include taking food to customers, washing dishes, making some starters(appetisers), making all salads, plating food, making all deserts, polishing cutlery, peeling vegetables. It just feels like a lot of work for me in the kitchen by myself at times for such low pay and high stress and risk of cuts and burns (which I’ve had a few of).
It’s just so frustrating because I know all the bar staff earn more than me because the adult minimum wage is higher but I genuinely feel I work harder and contribute just as much (if not more) to the pub than they do.
I turn 17 next month and at this point I would have worked here for 6 months and I told my parents and older sister I’m planning on asking for a 50p pay rise and they basically laughed at me and said I’m lucky to even have a job and that I should just be grateful because I’m “earning well for my age”.
I just wanna ask all your thoughts about if in being realistic. Sorry if there’s typos I’m on mobile and thank you so much for reading this all.