New reports from Bloomberg have concluded that older people are now replacing teenagers as employees in fast food restaurants. Franchises are hiring more and more senior citizens at a more consistent basis instead of hiring teens as a cashier or part of the kitchen staff for their first-time paying job.
The idea of teenagers working at a fast food place for their first real job has been a long-time reality for many people. One of my first paying jobs was as a cashier, so I totally understand! But now, job opportunities are being posted in senior community centers and even on the AARP website to find senior citizens who might have an interest in a part-time gig.
The question is, why are more and more companies preferring senior citizens over teenagers now?
Bloomberg points out the obvious answer to a long-asked question. These companies are beginning to realize that senior citizens have more of the skills needed to excel in the position, which most teenagers lack. However, these are things that are greatly based on the teenager’s upbringing and not based on work skills.
The two things teenagers lack nowadays are being on time and friendly communication with both staff and customers.
In addition to this, there seems to be a lot more interest these days in retired senior citizens wanting to work, even if it’s just a part-time job. They find themselves bored, wanting to make a little extra money, or just get out of the house.
63-year-old Stevenson Williams is a retired construction worker and now manages a Church’s Chicken in South Carolina. “It’s fun for a while, not getting up, not having to punch a clock, not having to get out of bed and grind every day,” Stevenson says to Bloomberg, “But after working all your life, sitting around got old. There’s only so many trips to Walmart you can take. I just enjoy Church’s Chicken. I enjoy the atmosphere, I enjoy the people.”
This is not only a great opportunity for senior citizens looking to work part-time, but it’s also a great opportunity for the company. By hiring senior citizens who are often not looking for a VP position or to be promoted at all, this means those companies can pay them at minimum wage, but still hire someone who has a ton of life and work experience under their belt.
Stevenson Williams says he often needs to coach his younger employees in basic manners. “A lot of times with the younger kids now, they can be very disrespectful. So you have to coach them and tell them this is your job.”
67-year-old Toni Vartanian-Heifner is a former teacher and says she works now for the social aspect of it and she only makes about $10 an hour. “I think I’m going to work for at least five more years,” she says. Senior citizens might be giving teenagers a run for their money! Literally.
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Worked for three years at Books A Million after my retirement. They didn’t want me to go because of my work ethic and cheerful attitude. I had customers who wanted “Mr. Randy” when they needed help, well me and the other over-50’s that worked there.
In the town my sister lives in they don’t open the Burger King until 10 or 10:30, because the teenagers don’t want to get up early.
I was talking to the lawn guy one day and he told me they had hired three teenagers at the lawn company. They showed up to work and when they found out they had to mow lawns, they immediately quit.
-and society wonders why the youth think they are entitled.
Wrote this 2 years ago.
Congratulations, you have moved up to the tax-paying minority and will be making $31,200.00 a year which is now far above the federal poverty level for a family of four.
After paying your share of taxes you will be left with approximately $22,464.00 and you are no longer eligible for any of the benefits the existing minimum wage has afforded you.
You can now afford to pay for all your family’s expenses such as food (which you have just driven up the cost), health care, schooling and all the taxes the rest of the country has the opportunity to pay (lets not forget your tax accountant).
Now the boss has the option of hiring better-qualified personnel for that kind of money. You must prove to the boss you are better than that retired person who has a social security check and far more life and business experience than you. Most of the older generation has graduated from schools where they can read, write and figure out the prices for the items on the menu without hitting a button with a picture on it. They know what customer service is all about because; they have been through enough bad service in their lives to what know what people expect. They have a great work ethic and plenty of time on their hands. They can fix things around the establishment to help keep cost down. Companies will not be required to provide health care because these seniors are on Medicare. These are some qualifications you might find hard to overcome.
Last but not least there is the kiosk or robot that replace you altogether. Now it will be financially feasible for companies to develop and install such equipment and the technician who repairs this equipment probably does not make $15 an hour.
This new found income will be great for a while however you should have opted for a better job else ware with all the extraordinary benefits that are out there for a fine candidate like yourself.
Oh by the way, I am one of those seniors that will be stopping by a restaurant near you because; I can earn that new amount without it affecting my social security benefits.
I wish you all the best.
This is about older workers getting jobs in the fast food industry. It has nothing to do with minimum wage. Get off your leftist high horse and try to understand kids now days in work places suck. Why because people like you teach them crap. It’s a starting job plane and simple get some skills and move on to better work. I’m 52 now but my first job was in fast food making $2.10 hour and I was glad to have it. Grow the hell up and be greatfull for what this country has to offer.
As I approach retirement age, I may have to keep working to keep my health insurance. I am not sure I will have enough between Social Security and my 401K to pay my mortgage. So of I can’t do my current job at retirement age, I may have to consider something like this as well. Unfortunately Walmart is making door greeters do heavy lifting, so that may be out.