Exploitative boss rips off local teenagers to save $10,000 for a vacation, then gets put in the crosshairs by a furious mom: 'I'm calling the labor department'

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 20, 2024 9:00 PM EDT

There are some trials and tribulations that parents just have to watch their kids go through. Ill-advised bangs, unsightly fashions, and a goofy minimum wage first job are some of the classic 'trials' that every teenager needs to learn about through experience. But when that goofy part-time job starts becoming exploitative, it's time for Mama Bear's gloves to come off. 

Our next story begins when a mom decides to let her teenage daughter get a job working for a local party planner. All of the local kids were thrilled for the opportunity to get the job, but what they found out later, was that this particular employer required an 8-week unpaid trial period where the teens would have to forego a paycheck. Mom finally found out about the blatant exploitation when her daughter stopped going to work suddenly. Apparently, all the kids were temporarily 'laid off' because the boss was going on a 1-month vacation. 

Scroll for the entire story of an enraged mother putting the pieces together on a $10,000 scam operation and how she intends to derail the entire thing. 

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  • 01
    "8 weeks of unpaid labor? Somebody belongs in jail!"
    via canva
  • 02
    A lesson for my child My daughter (15) applied for a job today. The company puts on expensive girls birthday parties. We're talking $1k for a 3 hour party plus add on's.
    via DetroitsGoingToWin
  • 03
    So they interview 60 high school girls for 10 non paid "audition" spots. They go way over the top with the interview process, tell them to write a resume, cover letter, references plus they have them do tests. The "assist" gives them pointers on how to address the woman who owners the place like she's the queen of England.
    via DetroitsGoingToWin
  • 04
    The 10 girls that "win" the audition get to work 12 hours per week for $0 for 8 weeks. At that point the owner goes away on a 1 month vacation and the the auditions are suspended for a month. After the month, supposedly they plan to hire 5 girls at minimum wage.
    via DetroitsGoingToWin
  • 05
    I was so proud of how my daughter handled her interview, but I told her there is no way she should ever work for such an exploitive boss like that. I pulled out my calculator and showed my daughter how she saves $10,000 exploiting high school kids for two months, then take a month-long vacation.
    via DetroitsGoingToWin
  • 06
    I, I'm calling the I am so labor department and putting her on blast on google just for even thinking about ripping off with my kid.
    via DetroitsGoingToWin
  • 07
    BeBraveShortStuff 10h ago Let her listen in when you call the labor department. She'll remember that for the rest of her life- not just the information you get, or the fact that her mom advocated for her, she will remember she was worth advocating for, and no manager will be able to take advantage of her.
    via BeBraveShortStuff
  • 08
    sopcannon 12h ago All work unless it is charity work should be paid, any company making a profit and using employees to do it should also pay the employees.
    via sopcannon
  • 09
    singularpotato • 9h ago Working with young people, I love how fast they are to quit exploitative employment situations. They truly take none of the that millennials or gen x used to take from our first bosses and they should be admired for it instead of dismissed as lazy.
    via singularpotato
  • 10
    Indecisive action • 9h ago Absolutely report her and her business. She may have to back pay every girl she has ever done this to. Any real work done, regardless of if it is part of an interview process, must be paid.
    via Indecisive action
  • 11
    NarbeNa 11h ago Sounds like your daughter just found a business to create and put this person out of business. ✩ 87 ☐ F 1 Share Wonderful-Glass380 11h ago wow i'm glad you called the labor department. that is so wild. lady! this
    via NarbeNa
  • 12
    ananikifo 8h ago • Good for you and your daughter! If you haven't already, I would talk to your daughter's school and they might warn the students and parents about this exploitation, since it seems high school kids are being targeted. It raises safeguarding concerns for me, especially as it's only girls and they're asked for a lot of information about themselves.
    via ananikifo
  • 13
    AgentLawless • 6h ago Go to town on this scum. Slave labor, taking advantage of children, this is just morally, ethically and professionally unacceptable. It's an attack on workers and human rights. Scum.
    via AgentLawless
  • 14
    Axentor 5h ago . Good for her and good for you. My niece worked for one day at a detailing job. When she 15, found out she wasn't getting paid as much as her slightly older coworkers because labor laws allow ag business to pay 15 year olds less. She said "I will not work where I get paid less because of my age proud of her.
    via Axentor
  • 15
    Kapika96 • 4h ago 8 weeks of unpaid labour? Somebody belongs in jail! + 9 9 д Reply Share ... • GoAhead_BakeACake 7h ago Update us on the phone call? I'd love to know whatever they have to say.
    via Kapika96
  • 16
    healthcrusade • 2h ago I would call the labor department and make the report before you put it on blast on Google because the labor department needs proof of these practices and if you make the practices public before the labor department can investigate, they might change them
    via healthcrusade
  • 17
    biker116823 · 3h ago Kudos to you for showing her and understanding how huge of a scam that is. No waaaaaay that's legal 4 23 Reply Share Hating_life_69 • 2h ago Put her on blast here too.
    via biker116823
  • 18
    VictorVonD278 · 3h ago Whenever I hire someone and they ask if training is paid for I'm like what people get away without paying for the training period? Then I remember a highschool friend who hires teens as independent contractors for half of minimum wage and has kids flocking to sign up to work.
    via VictorVonD278
  • 19
    oddly_being • 2h ago FANTASTIC work, parent! I wasn't as lucky, since my parents never ALLOWED me to work while I was in school, and discouraged me any time I brought up wanting a job, including well into college.
    via oddly_being
  • 20
    While I appreciate that they wanted to support me, it meant that when I finally DID go out to get a job, I had no knowledge of how the job market would work and no support navigating it, so I Imade a lot of stumbles into exploitative companies like that and struggled to understand what red flags to look out for.
    via oddly_being
  • 21
    The idea was "school is your job," and I understand their thinking, but this real world experience is the REAL education. You set an example for your daughter and showed her what it looks like when she's getting taken advantage of, and I hope more parents follow your example!
    via oddly_being

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shady boss employee good parent job teenagers work summer job working labor department parenting employer good parenting osha high school scam paycheck daughter parent Reddit unpaid parents vacation
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