20-year-old gets offered hospitality job, turns it down because the pay is $10.50 an hour: 'The manager himself agreed it wasn't a livable wage'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Feb 16, 2026 9:00 AM EST

In a lot of work environments, we only get an improvement in conditions because we demand them.

The vocal minority who are willing to speak up when something isn't right or could simply be better are often the only reason that unfair workplace practices change. It is no easy task, as it does not always bring immediate rewards. In fact, it sometimes leads things to get worse before they get better.

Learning to advocate for yourself at work is a skill that usually takes practice. Most of us are not very good at it when we first enter the working world, and many never get much better throughout the duration of their careers. It is a vital thing to be capable of nonetheless, and the earlier we learn about its benefits, the better. Early in a career journey is one of the most vulnerable times for employees to be exploited, precisely because they are less likely to speak up.

Still, it remains a downside that being the person who takes issue with these things can involve passing by opportunities that may have been great otherwise. That being said, it is better than keeping your mouth shut and living to regret it.

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  • a young female hospitality worker wearing a work uniform leans on a bar from behind it
    via Katherine Kromberg

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

  • In this story, a parent expressed pride in their daughter after she aced an interview at a place that she had loved for years and always wanted to work at. This resulted in the manager offering her a job with an hourly wage of $10.50 an hour.

    Upon hearing how much she would be paid, the young woman insisted that it was not a livable wage and that it was not something that she was going to accept. The manager even agreed with her, and her parent felt the need to praise her actions, especially as they felt they lacked conviction in fighting for their rights at work sometimes.

  • My 20-year-old daughter blew me away. She was offered a job she loves for $10.50 an hour and told them frankly that it's not a livable wage.

    She assured me she was respectful, which is her nature anyway, but I was honestly a bit shocked that she said this directly to the hiring manager.
    via KookyBat2166
  • This was a place she really wanted to work at, a local spot she's loved for years.
    via KookyBat2166
  • And apparently, the manager himself agreed with her that it wasn't a livable wage and told her he was sorry they couldn't offer anything better.
    via KookyBat2166
  • It was then I realized my shock wasn't just because my daughter is usually quiet and avoids conflict; no, it was because this approach is completely different from how I was raised to think about work.
    via KookyBat2166
  • I'm 43 years old, and when I was her age, I would have accepted any insulting wage offered to me just to get experience and work at a cool place.
    via KookyBat2166
  • I would have even thanked them for the opportunity to be fully exploited. The idea of challenging someone in a position of authority like that?
    via KookyBat2166
  • It would have never crossed my mind. I kept telling her how proud I am of her for knowing her worth and refusing to accept less than she deserves.
    via KookyBat2166
  • You always think you're the one teaching your kids, but man, they teach you so much too.
    via KookyBat2166
  • It's a continuous, non-stop process. This whole thing gave me a new perspective, and this community has been a big part of that.
    via KookyBat2166
  • So I had to share this with you all. Reading the stories here has solidified the idea for me that this is something we all need to start doing.
    via KookyBat2166
  • Every time. I started a new job a few months ago, and now I'm kicking myself for not pushing for a higher salary.
    via KookyBat2166
  • It's a mistake I won't make again. We can't keep accepting this reality of working for wages we can't live on.
    via KookyBat2166
  • It's not just about me or you, it's about all of us. Companies can afford to pay so much more, despite all their pathetic excuses.
    via KookyBat2166
  • They just won't do it out of the goodness of their hearts. We have to be the ones to force them.
    via KookyBat2166
  • a young female hospitality worker in uniform stands behind a bar, holding an open menu and looking to the side
    via Katherine Kromberg

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

  • PrestigiousRub1895 $10.50 in 2026 is unacceptable, but unfortunately someone else will take the job for that amount for whatever reason.
    via PrestigiousRub1895
  • AgnieszkaRocks I'm closer to you in age, and frankly, I salute your daughter. If people keep agreeing to work for unlivabke wages, companies will keep offering unlivabke wages. No one in the history of time has paid their bills with the fact that they work for a cool company.
    via AgnieszkaRocks
  • sasquatchinsverige Those are slave wages. Its an essential job the business needs it to be filled in order to operate - why cant they afford more?
    via sasquatchinsverige
  • backyard3 So is she going to find another job that pays more?
    via backyard3
  • Donut-sprinkle That's sucks. My 23 year old colleague makes $35 an hour
    via Donut-sprinkle

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