But before your teen accepts a summer job, make sure you have the answers to these questions:

• How will your teen get to and from work? It’s easy for teens to say, “It won’t be hard to get a ride—Maggie’s working there, too.” But what about the week that Maggie’s on vacation? What about when they work different schedules?

• Will your teen have a regular schedule, or can she be asked to come to work at odd hours?

• Will your teen ever be the only one at work? Will your teen get off work late at night? Pay attention to safety issues.

• Can your teen still take part in other activities while working? She may want to take a week off to attend field hockey camp. He may need to work his schedule around the summer basketball team’s practice.

• Does your teen know anyone who has worked for this employer in the past? One girl worked for several weeks without a paycheck. When she talked to a friend, she learned that the employer had a history of not paying teens.

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