Every year, hundreds of students in our area go to work for the first time. These youth are often ill informed about their employment rights, and about what to do if they find themselves being harassed or denied equal opportunities.
Youth between the ages of 14 and 24 are particularly susceptible to having their rights infringed on, mainly because youth are eager to impress and reluctant to make waves.
Teenagers often work temporary and part time, so employers might not take the time to train them. They often have supervisors who aren't much older than themselves. Rather than correcting the harassing behavior, young workers may find it easier to find a new job.
Without having the proper tools early in one's work life to address problems, these problems can continue to reoccur into one's career. Educating young workers is one solution, which has resulted in the creation of the Youth@Work initiative.
