Parent of 16-year-old coffee shop worker encourages employees to get back at their boss: 'The parents of the other high school kids aren't all OK with this'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Apr 23, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

When they weren't getting treated properly at work, these kids joked about organizing to try and get back at their boss. If only we could all do such a thing! 

Even though retail and food service workers do a physically and emotionally draining job, they rarely get paid more than minimum wage. They're expected to stand for 8 hours ringing up customers, and in between that, they're supposed to sweep, mop, and wipe counters, not to mention stocking duties. Teens often take these entry-level jobs because it's their first job ever. They don't know what is or isn't good for them in the workplace since they're novices. It's not their fault that their bosses have very little care for them. It's the manager's job to stretch their workforce thin in order to keep costs low. 

This teen worker's parent got involved, but they aren't sure if they did the right thing by encouraging their kiddo and friends to push back. It seems like their heart was in the right spot, but the roll-out of the plan could use some work. 

Next, read about the workers who made some very costly mistakes, like one person who "crashed a $120,000 car." 

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    Cheezburger Image 10497280768
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

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

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    "AITA for encouaging my 16 year old daughter and her friends to unionize against their boss?"

    My daughter is 16 and has a job at a chain coffeeshop. She works with 6 other highschoolers and 5 college kids. The high schoolers she works with don't like their manager, he keeps their hours just below the threshold for higher pay, doesn't give promised raises, and is just an a h le to work with. Recently my daughter and one of her friends were joking about making a union like the ones they
    via u/melikka
  • 03
    were studying at school. They texted some of the other kids from work, and the idea started gaining traction. So I talked with them about it, explaining the possible benefits and risks. I tried to encourage them to do their own research too. I thought it was pretty cool that they were considering taking something they're learning about in history class and applying it.
    via u/melikka
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    The girls ended up inviting the other high school kids who worked at the coffee shop to our house, to talk about how to unionize. I could tell some kids were going along for fun. But most of them were taking it seriously. I helped them write out their demands and practice them. They even got the college kids, who were unhappy with scheduling around exams, on board.
    via u/melikka
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    They all went to the coffeeshop Sunday morning, and presented their case to the boss. Who absolutely blew up on them, and told them that if they didn't stick to their schedule, they were all fired. But the kids stood their ground. He started singing out the kids that were scheduled to work that morning and telling them to start work immediately or they're fired. And so three of them got fired. Then he told the rest that anyone else who didn't report for their shifts would be
    via u/melikka
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    fired too, and I don't think he expected them to call his bluff. He fired several more, then started demanding that the "fired" kids come in to work. Right now, the kids are all holding strong. Apparently the manager is trying to replace everyone fast, but isn't having much luck. I'm honestly quite proud of my daughter for all this. But the parents of the other high school kids aren't all OK with this.
    via u/melikka
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    EY Coffee SY HAC CAMBORCATIONS
    via Azizov Azim on Unsplash+

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

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    Several of them have called me up or come to speak to me furious with me for these reasons: Making their kid lose their job, which they were supposed to keep to teach them hard work and responsibility Encouraging kids to be entitled brats and sabatoge a local business owner
    via u/melikka
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    . Letting the kids play at something they didn't really understand I told them that the kids made their choice, all I did was give them a place to talk and plan things. I got a call from the coffeeshop owner too, to say that my daughter hasn't been covering her shifts. And that the kids are "playing" at a union. I told him that it doesn't sound like play to me, perhaps he should listen to what they have to say.
    via u/melikka
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    And he got furious with me, calling my daughter lazy. I honestly think my daughter learned more from all this than she would have working as a barista. But the other parents are furious at me. AITA?
    via u/melikka
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    Order66-Cody NTA, these kids are doing the right things. You did the right thing to help then fight for better treatment. I would also call the local news network and tip them about this.
    via u/Order66-Cody
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    QueenMoogle NTA. Teach those kids to stand up for themselves! Workers have rights!
    via u/QueenMoogle
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    The_Friendliest Gi... NTA. F those other parents, they're part of the problem in modern society, not part of the solution. The slow death of organized labour is a huge part of why wages have been stagnant for decades, and the middle class has shrunk to a fraction of its former self.
    via u/The_FriendliestGiant
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    And if some "local business owner" is treating his staff so badly they're all willing to get fired to stand up to him, then I don't see that he deserves to have any employees anyways.
    via u/The_FriendliestGiant
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    frothy4655 NTA. Good for you and your daughter!
    via u/frothy4655
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    NOSjoker21 NTA. And the fact that you'd believe so after telling kids to stand up for themselves. is nonsense! SEIZE THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION
    via u/NOSjoker21
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    Melanie_Jellyfish NAH. I understand why the other parents would be upset that their children have lost their jobs, and that is valid. But you are teaching them much more about responsibility and how the workplace really works, and facilitating them having fair working conditions. This type of action will inspire them for years to come.
    via u/Melanie_Jellyfish
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    Teenagers really do need to be in contact with adults who take them and their ideas seriously, and don't just write them off or prescribe what they should be doing with their lives. Good for you!
    via u/Melanie_Jellyfish
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    NTA. The parents that called you are gutless bootlickers who would be completely fine with being treated unfairly by their bosses. You've helped all of those kids gain valuable life experience.
    via u/ZyrixilToo
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    kounty YTA, but only because this isn't how to unionize. You don't just show up with your co-workers and start collectively bargaining. You should have had them reach out to a union and have them sign cards. Once the bureau of labor and industries (or whatever it is called where you live) is notified, they cannot be
    via u/kounty
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    fired for unionizing or attempting to. They can however be fired for not showing up for their scheduled shift Good idea (maybe) but poorly executed.
    via u/kounty

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Kids-Teens teens boss workplace-stories jobs teenager job teenagers bosses work coworkers raising teens workplace
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