The grocery store checkout line, the music store at the mall, and the counter at the local gas station offer retail experience to teens who are getting their first taste of the working world. In the United States, more than half of all teens between 15 and 17 years of age have jobs in retail settings during the school year, and even more teens flock to retail employment during the summer months. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University in Raleigh studied teens' work conditions and safety in retail service jobs.
Three hundred ninety-six 14- to 17-year-old retail workers from Massachusetts, North Carolina, California, and Pennsylvania who had experience working in stores such as restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores answered questions about their training, work hours, and concerns about their jobs. Teens noted whether they worked alone, whether they worked without a supervisor, and whether they had training to deal with on-the-job problems such as angry customers, sexual harassment, or robbery. In addition, teens reported whether they'd ever felt like they were in danger while on the job, and whether they'd ever refused a task or quit a job because of something they were asked to do at work.
In all geographic areas, working after 7 PM on a school night was common - 32% of teens reported this practice in Los Angeles, California, and 82% of teens said they'd worked after 7 PM on a school night in Massachusetts. Up to 34% of teens said they'd even worked past 10 PM at least once on a school night. About half of all teen retail workers worked alone during the daylight hours - and more than one fifth of teens in urban areas worked alone at night.
Many teens said they'd never received training in dealing with angry customers, sexual harassment, or robberies. However, despite this lack of training, few teens said they'd felt in danger of being physically attacked or robbed.
What This Means to You: According to the results of this study, teens who work in retail frequently work alone and without supervision, risk factors that place them at increased risk for violence. Encourage your teen to look for a job where teen workers are regularly supervised and where employers don't schedule workers alone, especially at night. You can also check with your state department of labor for information on child labor laws - some states may require that employers avoid scheduling teens to work on weeknights or past a certain hour.
Source: Carol W. Runyan, PhD; J. Michael Bowling, PhD; Michael Schulman, PhD; Susan Scavo Gallagher, MPH; Journal of Adolescent Health, March 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: March 2005
