Today’s post was shared by US Dept. of Labor and comes from blog.dol.gov
It’s definitely time for high school and college students to be searching for summer jobs or internship experiences (ideally that are paid).
As Labor Secretary Tom Perez writes, “the skills I picked up in those early jobs – like responsibility, teamwork and problem solving – are skills I use every day.”
It is unfortunate that a summer of work can no longer pay for a semester of college, but it is important to make sure your loved ones who are searching for either their summer gig or first job are aware of concerns like workplace safety.
I encourage you to review this blog post by partner Jon Rehm, Six Tips for Safe and Fair Holiday Employment. Pretty much everything should be covered the same for temporary summer workers, with a few exceptions. That way, your younger loved ones who are prospective workers will know that they should expect and ask for safety training at work and also that they must be notified if they are not covered by workers’ compensation during the summer.
It’s difficult to consider high school and college students potentially getting hurt at work. But the reality is that all workers need to be prepared for that possibility.
However, hopefully the skills gained for summer workers will lead to a lifetime of productive work experiences.
 As a teenager, I had three paper routes and I worked at a driving range. Being the secretary of labor doesn’t often involve delivering newspapers or picking up golf balls, but the skills I picked up in those early jobs – like responsibility, teamwork and problem solving – are skills I use every day. For a lot of teenagers, a summer job offers a pathway into the workforce, and we know that having a summer job can make all the difference to someone who didn’t get the easiest start in life. There’s plenty of research showing that meaningful employment opportunities can improve job prospects and help keep kids out of the criminal justice system.  Summer and after-school jobs help young people develop what some people call “soft skills,” though I think that term is misleading. There’s nothing “soft” about leadership, teamwork, punctuality or problem-solving. Those skills are essential, and learning them early can help put young people on a path to their next move, whether it’s a job or more education. Unfortunately, summer jobs aren’t always easy to come by for young people – especially for those who live in urban areas. That’s why I am excited about the $20 million we announced today for the Summer Jobs and Beyond: Career Pathways for Youth competition. The Labor Department will award up to $2 million each to 10 local workforce development boards to expand existing summer jobs programs into… |
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