Kate Langbroek left Australians divided on Sunday night when she said 16-year-old workers should be paid less than 40-year-old workers.
The comedian, 58, appeared on The Project to give her opinion on how pay scales should work in the professional workforce as unions push to abolish “discriminatory” junior rates in retail, fast food and awards of pharmacy.
However, her strong stance that teenagers should not be paid the same hourly wage or salary as middle-aged adults caused a major divide among Instagram users when a clip of her appearance was posted online.
‘It does not work. A friend of mine owns an ice cream shop… I remember she said that one Sunday she had to pay a 16-year-old $38 an hour,’ she said.
“It’s incredible money, but it also says, ‘I’m teaching (the 16-year-old girl).’ A 16-year-old girl can’t do what a 40-year-old girl would do.
Kate Langbroek, 58, left Australians divided on Sunday night when she said 16-year-old workers should be paid less than 40-year-old workers. Pictured front right is her with her husband Peter Allen Lewis and her children Lewis, 20, Sunday, 18, Artie, 16, and Jan, 14.
Kate, who shares children Lewis, 20, Sunday, 18, Artie, 16, and Jan, 14, with husband Peter Allen Lewis, continued: “So, especially small businesses, aren’t they accepting the young people not only to “exploit” them” but also to teach them?’
Viewers flocked to The Project’s Instagram page to express their own opinions on the matter, with many criticizing Kate for her “ridiculous” stance.
“What I can tell you is that my teenage children who work in hospitality don’t suffer any less abuse and criticism from rude customers just because they are younger and paid less than the adults around them,” one person wrote.
Another added: ‘Ridiculous. Provide wages for work regardless of age. We are not talking about experience here and the ice cream parlor example is ridiculous. You’d have to teach a new employee no matter how old they are.’
The comedian appeared on The Project to give her opinion on how pay scales should work in the professional workforce as unions push to abolish “discriminatory” junior rates in retail, fast food and pharmacy premiums.
A third said: “But what if the teenager has been there 40+ years? Does that teenager deserve more money? I mean, it just so happens that the 40 year old might be the newbie.”
‘They are employed to do the same job…of course they should receive the same salary. Don’t hire someone if you think he isn’t capable,” someone else commented.
Despite the large amount of backlash Kate received for her comments, many others came forward to support the radio host and agree with her views.
One person wrote: ‘If salaries were the same, you wouldn’t hire a 16 year old, you would hire a 40 year old and get the experience… jobs for teenagers would dry up quickly.’
However, her strong stance that teenagers should not receive the same hourly wage or salary as middle-aged adults caused a major divide among Instagram users.
“Kate… the voice of reason… exactly… I have a teenager (who just works) who is amazing… but she has a lot to learn in the workplace and the salary should reflect that,” agreed other.
A third added: ‘No! I have great photos of what the 16 year olds left behind for me to clean up. They have little relationship with older customers, they don’t know how to wash dishes properly, they can’t sweep properly, and the list goes on.’
‘ABSOLUTELY NOT! The culture of rights does not need more encouragement! This is a tremendous lack of respect for mature workers and their experience!’ someone else commented.
The comment comes as young workers across the country could soon receive a pay rise as unions seek to align the incomes of 18-year-old workers with those of adults.
Kate said 16-year-olds should be paid less because employers have to train them, while a 40-year-old usually has much more experience.
Unions on Thursday submitted a “groundbreaking” application calling on the industrial relations watchdog to abolish “discriminatory” youth rates on retail, fast food and pharmacy premiums and pay workers the full adult rate 18 years or older.
Currently, workers under the age of 20 in retail, fast food and pharmacy are paid less than the full salary of an adult.
Younger workers in those sectors across Australia will see a rise in wages if the case is successful, with benefits expected to flow into junior rate enterprise deals.
The proposed changes could also result in a pay increase of between five and 10 per cent for workers under 16 and 50 per cent severance pay and a 15 per cent pay increase for 17-year-olds.