Overworked Underpaid Teenagers

Overworked Underpaid Teenagers

Fast food companies hire more teenagers compared to any other company in the US. Teenage population makes up the majority of the fast food workforce. The main reason for fast food companies hiring a young population is to achieve work efficiency. Fast-food companies need employees that accept part-time jobs against low wages. Teenagers that seek part-time jobs, lack adequate skills and will work for little to nothing. “The fast food industry pays the minimum wage to a higher proportion of its workers than any other American industry”. (Schlosser 73).

I agree that teenagers make up most of the workforce in the fast food industry. Hiring experienced people means more cost to the companies. One of the main reasons Fast food companies employ teenagers as part-time workers is to minimize costs and save money. Factory’s speed and volume are other factors that motivate fast food companies to hire a younger staff. Teenagers exhibit high levels of energy and are capable of managing the customers’ flow at the franchises and outlets. Fast food industry relies on machines and operating systems that make easy for unskilled teenagers to handle things.

Many teenagers are students that take twelve hours shift on weekends. Students’ works for the fast food companies as telemarketers and in shopping malls. Statistics reveal that around 70 percent of hired workers at fast food restaurants are no more than 20 years. Only one- third of the employees have college experience. The facts also reveal that the companies do not provide other employee benefits to the fast food workers. Around 87 percent of the fast food employees lack employer benefits. The teenagers working at the fast food companies lack health benefits compared to the general