After months of working for their dad for free, 21-year-old gets an interview for a paying job, dad finds out and accuses them of betrayal: 'I need someone to work with me'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Feb 15, 2025 2:00 PM EST

We all know a person or two who wound up working for their parents. Whether it is for a few months after finishing college and before finding a job in the field they want, or it is for the rest of their career, many kids find themselves working side by side with their parents.

Next time you see that person who worked for their parents, you should ask them how it went, and whether it was truly worth it. Sure, being able to make decent money in a job you didn't even have to interview for sounds great, but it also involved seeing your parent every day for at least 8 hours and having them criticize every single step you take, and that cannot be an easy thing to do.

Working for your parents also means that they will forever hold it against you. They will forever remember the time they got you a job and helped you earn money, which also means they will spend forever reminding you that. 

So, do you think it's worth it?

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  • The kid in the story down below is probably wishing they never agreed to work with their dad for free, mostly because six months in, there seems to be no way out. Even after they get an interview for a paying job somewhere else, their dad is already guilt-tripping them into staying where they are. 

    Keep scrolling to read out the full story…

  • Cheezburger Image 10466780672
    via stagestock

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "AITA ,worked for dad for almost free for 6 months, got an interview in the area, dad said i backs**bbed him"

    I worked for dad for 6 months for almost free, then i got an interview in the area i study He feels like a clown and that i backs' bed him cuz he
    via Make-Mine
  • needs someone to work eith him, despite his bad money management leading to debt. Hi, i m(21) got an interview in a factory where i could
    via Make-Mine
  • do what i study computer engineering, but i have been working for my dad (m55) for abt 6 months for free, he fired his previous employee cuz she messed
    via Make-Mine
  • up a lot, and i started helping with the promisse of a salary, he's been paying my phone bill and college tuition, but at max 200(abt 15% min wage)
    via Make-Mine
  • reais a month, it doesnt cover what he daid he would pay me, (cheap pc parts cuz some classes online), he has quite some debt but is bad at planning,
    via Make-Mine
  • the job itself is really easy, one person can do the months work in 4 days easy,, just basic stuff that needs some info that's on excel sheets i fill, then my
    via Make-Mine
  • cousin recomended me this job and tomorow i got an interview, but when i told dad he said that i "back bbed him" and that he feels like a clown
    via Make-Mine
  • bcz he belived i would keep helping him, but i need an internship or similar to finish my degree, and i have 18 months to get it. Im conflicted cuz he is giving me the cold shoulder... AITA?
    via Make-Mine
  • Edit: in the end the job would not be in the area, and it would be dificult to find a position cuz their IT dep was outsourced, so i will stay with dad for a little
    via Make-Mine
  • while longer, but i already told him that in 2 or 3 months i will search for an iternship.
    via Make-Mine
  • Cheezburger Image 10466780928
    via Hemera Technologies

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Friendly_Fall Sue for back pay. What he is doing is wage theft and literally illegal. Your dad is taking advantage of you, and now that you're going to work for actual pay he's manipulating you. He's not a good person.
    via Friendly_Fall
  • Make-Mine OP He is still my dad... im not gonna sue someone who literraly pays for my home and college... its just a s! ..y situation...
    via Make-Mine
  • BeyondDBeef NTA. Unless you suddenly bailed. Meaning left him in a lurch. But yeah, working for free for family is nice, but eventually you need your own path.
    via BeyondDBeef
  • Make-Mine OP I kept commenting from time to time that i need an internship, he brushes it off, and i also told him that i can just keep doing the job at my off hours, he complained abt leaving the office unnatemded.
    via Make-Mine
  • secretrebel If you can do the work in 4 days then could you keep doing it? You're in no way obliged to but the pay might then be fair if it's for four days work instead of a month?
    via secretrebel
  • Make-Mine OP I told him i could just keep doing it... he kept complaining abt leaving the office unatended...
    via Make-Mine
  • Bulldog944 Well if you didn't give him the courtesy of notice and left him high and dry, YATA.... If you let him know you were looking for a job and gave him notice to prepare for your leaving NTA
    via Bulldog944
  • Make-Mine OP Ive been looking on and off for some time and ive been warning him that i will need an internship for a long time..., it was suposed to be temporary to begin with, and
    via Make-Mine
  • again the job is really easy and we have a lot of free time, and he has a remote worker i forgot to mention that, she does mostly hr stuff but knows how to do my part of the job, as it was her previous position.
    via Make-Mine
  • Leigeofgoblins If your dad can't have a business without s' ve labour then his business isn't viable. NTA. You're not his s've.
    via Leigeofgoblins
  • TemptingPenguin369 NTA. You did the work of an employee and he didn't pay you for it. He backs 'bed. you by not valuing your time and talent.
    via TemptingPenguin369
  • puntacana24 NTA - If your dad can't afford to pay his employees, he can't afford to run a business.
    via puntacana24
  • LowBalance4404 NTA. I hope your interview goes really well.
    via LowBalance4404

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family drama boss aita employee kids mother work reddit story parenting dad workplace family sister Reddit job interview money parents children Father
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