[lovethesun]

Hi friends. I have a teenager that needs to be taught some responsibility. I decided to let her get a job and so far it's been going well. I can already see a difference. She's also learning the value of working hard and earning money as well as the cost of things by having to pay for things herself. However, she works at a restaurant that is allowing eat-in dining. Of course, all customers are not wearing masks since they are eating. She wears a mask, gloves and they have spaced the tables out for social distancing though I don't know what good that does as it's a small restaurant. In addition to serving customers all night she is often asked to take out the trash and clean the restrooms. I am concerned about her getting Covid from this job. There have been some businesses in our area that have had to close for 2 days to disinfect because of covid exposure. So I feel the potential is there. But I don't want to over react in front of her. Honestly, I'd like her to quit this job and maybe find a different one that does not carry covid risk. But she likes this job and will probably fight me. Should I make her quit or just let her deal with the consequences if something happens? But if she does get it, we all will get it. So it's a risk to all of us.

[Skeezyks]

I'm sorry I don't have any useful advice to offer with regard to this. But I noticed no one had yet replied to your post. So I thought I would. (It's been a couple of days now since you posted this. So perhaps the situation is already resolved?)

This is such a difficult situation because it not only affects your daughter but, potentially, the whole family. One thing you didn't mention was how old your daughter is. You mentioned she's a teen. But you didn't indicate whether or not she's still a minor or if she might perhaps be 18 or 19.

If your daughter is a minor then it seems to me, given the potentially serious consequences, you have both the right & the obligation to explain your concerns clearly but to force your daughter to quit the job if she won't do it voluntarily after discussing the potential lethality of the Covid-19 virus. Taking responsibility for a job is one form of responsibility. But doing what needs to be done to keep the family safe is another form.

On the other hand, if your daughter happens to be 18 or 19, then she is technically an adult & I don't believe you can force her to do anything except perhaps to force her to choose between the job & your home which is something I'm sure you'd be loth to do. However extreme circumstances sometimes require extreme responses.

I wish I had something more useful to offer with regard to this. Perhaps other PC members will yet have other suggestions they'll be able to share. Best wishes...

[Bill3]

Just speaking for myself, I would not allow my child to take on the kind of exposure that you are discussing. The fact that we have underlying conditions does affect my perspective.

One thing that might be of interest if affordable is to tell her that she is being "laid off" (if you take that route) and so you will give her "severance pay" of (say) two weeks or one month of her usual pay. This will allow her time to find a more suitable job without suffering financially due to valid family health concerns.

[Prycejosh1987]

I think your daughter needs to learn from her mistakes for herself, if you say something or do something that seems right but is wrong it could worsen your relationship with her. Just wish her all the best, and help her if she falls.