Fast food boss continually schedules high schooler at 10 AM on school days, asks them to skip their Senior Prom

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Apr 5, 2026 10:00 PM EDT

When you're working in high school, everyone involved needs to understand that high school comes first. 

Having an after-school job to make a little extra cash is a pretty common practice, and it's not a bad one. It teaches you work ethic pretty early on, and you can learn how to be an employee and look after your own money. And businesses appreciate it because it's pretty cheap labor. But there should definitely be boundaries in place around working when you're still in school. School is always more important than the job, and that should be made clear to everyone involved. If there comes a time when the job is getting in the way or making life harder for the student, then it should be re-evaluated. It's on the managers and the parents to make sure this isn't happening. 

The manager in this story, though, did not see it that way. They continually failed to realize they were mis-scheduling the high school student, and were not being sorry for their mistakes. It's one thing to have some miscommunication and mess up sometimes. It's another thing to completely disregard someone else's feelings and desires. It makes the employee feel devalued and like they should look elsewhere for employment. If you don't feel like you're being listened to in your place of work, then you probably don't want to stay. Especially if you're in school, and you're having to juggle that on top of a job.

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  • A customer orders food at a fast food joint
    via Amanda Sala

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My boss keeps scheduling me (a high schooler) for 10am.

    Last time, I was lucky enough to get someone else to take my shift, and the other managers (except my GM who made the schedule) apologized to me. Now it has happened AGAIN. And not just that, THEY SCHEDULED ME ON MY PROM NIGHT WHICH I CROSSED OFF MY AVAILABILITY LAST MONTH. I genuinely don't
    via RaineDrop39
  • know what to do. I know school is more important, but I don't know how to get it through to him. Not to mention, I only have one senior prom in my life and made plans with my friends months ago. I work at a fast food place (usually as register) and am still a trainee (which is a fancy way of saying you don't get tips.) I'm so lost on what to do rn
    via RaineDrop39

  • Commenters gave a dose of reality.

    C... Your manager makes the big bucks and this is 100% on him. Tell him straight up. I'm HS, there is no way I can work during school hours. Dont stress it that's a him problem not a you problem.
    via Cranks_No_Start
  • If you told them a month out that you weren't available for a day and he did it anyway... again thats a him problem. Don't wait on telling him but do so asap. If he fires you...life goes on find another job.
    via Cranks_No_Start
  • S31J41 Just tell him that you are not available. They made a mistake, it's not that big of a deal. Dont take it personally.
    via S31J41
  • TheGoosiestGal Send him and email and CC your bosses boss. "As discussed I am not available during these hours as I am enrolled in Highschool. In addition it appears I was scheduled on and I had requested it off several
    via TheGoosiestGal
  • weeks ago, this is not something I can reschedule so please make the necessary accommodations to the schedules. Frankly just do not show up if they schedule you for prom. I mean that 110%. Almost everyone quits their forst job because their manager tried to take advantage of the fact they were naive kids who dont know what is acceptable.
    via TheGoosiestGal
  • YouCanCallMeDani You should be thankful for this guy, he's teaching you an important adult lesson. You have to stand up for yourself. My advice is to inform him that yet again he's scheduled you for a school day so he needs to fix that. I
    via YouCanCallMeDani
  • A teen worker takes a break at their fast food service job
    via Unsplash+ (Toa Heftiba)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • That's what happened here, when one high school was at a crossroads for what to do with their after-school job. They were being continually disrespected and didn't want to encourage that behavior. On the other hand, they wanted to keep their jobs and continue making the extra cash. But things continued to come up, and they didn't know what to do, so they reached out to the internet. Sometimes adults can provide a valuable perspective on something that might not seem as obvious to someone just starting out at work. Keep scrolling to read what happened here and see what commenters had to say about it.

  • would also point out that you had previously noted with as much notice as possible that you are not able to work on the date you marked yourself as unavailable so he'll need to find someone to cover that shift also.
    via YouCanCallMeDani
  • He's going to give you a line of crop and probably tell you your job is on the line, which it may be. To this I would respond ok, then you'll need to find someone to cover all the shifts and walk out. Fast food jobs are plenty. You're still in school so I wouldn't even list this as previous
    via YouCanCallMeDani
  • employment. That's only really needed if you want to prove experience or explain a gap in employment. Your explanation could be you needed to focus on school.
    via YouCanCallMeDani
  • LaserMcRadar You weren't lucky that you got someone to cover your shift. They were lucky that you extended that courtesy. It's not your responsibility to fix the mistakes of your superiors. And they made the mistake of scheduling you when you have clearly stated that you were unavailable.
    via LaserMcRadar
  • Especially with a high school student. It's not like they would even need to reference what you stated your availability was, like they might need to do for an adult. Literally all they have. to do is remember that you're a teenager attending high school and the hours you're unavailable on weekdays are obvious.
    via LaserMcRadar
  • mmcgrat6 It's not that serious. Remove them calmly and professionally what your availability is and that you won't be able to take shifts that conflict with your education schedule. I'd they make the mistake again, calmly and politely let them. know they need to adjust the schedule to have proper coverage since you cannot interfere with your education.
    via mmcgrat6
  • nadrae Start by respectfully standing up for your self. However be prepared for that boss to fire you somehow... this kind of BS means they don't respect you. They may even resent having to schedule "special" for you.
    via nadrae
  • S... Save what money you can and let them fire you. Do not quit, but prepare a resume and look for a new job. Don't show up for a shift out side of your state labor laws. (le no work during school hours and no late 10pm -7 am shifts
    via SocietalQuestioner
  • Retail and fast food managers get told to slowly reduce your shift hours so you quit voluntarily to avoid being liable for any benefits. and to spite the employee out of unemployment claims. Saw a guy once go from 5-3-1 day a week then they tried to bs him a 4 hour
    via SocietalQuestioner
  • shift. Our manager just wanted to outright fire him before he sabotaged anything on purpose, but corporate said no. Guy got another job but he still showed up for the 4 hours since it basically was an extra 60 bucks a week and did slow minimal work stacking boxes, trash, and dishes.
    via SocietalQuestioner
  • Once you find a job then quit or work your shift if you want some side money. You are young, future employers won't bat an eye and if they do ask why you were fired, be honest (not angry tone) and say "I was young and asked me to do something unethical to circumvent labor and pay laws."
    via SocietalQuestioner
  • Literally say how you were asked to skip going to school to work a shift repeatedly. Edit: This advice is for a manager that just doesn't give a f about you. (I had a manager ask for written requests and claim they didn't see it)
    via SocietalQuestioner
  • catjuggler Just remind them that you're not going and if they raise sh, what's the worst they can do- fire you I guess? I'm more than twice your age and had the same thing happen with getting scheduled when I was due to take the SATS and too bad for them.
    via catjuggler
  • InRainbows123207 Message them and let them know they made a mistake. It illegal to have you work during school hours so they will correct the mistake.
    via InRainbows123207

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parents of teens service industry story teens teenagers raising teens high school prom fast food service industry
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