Try getting a teenage kid to work, is more likely the problem. We hire a hay crew each summer, and it is getting harder and harder to find a kid that knows what work is. We had one this summer whose mother called asking if he could work. Seems she had bought him a truck and she hoped he could earn some gas money. Good idea right? Well, the kid shows up at 9.00 a.m. and by 11.30 a.m. “suddenly” remembers he had to pick up his girlfriend to go to the lake (a 30 mile drive each way). Next day, same thing; and coincidentally, one other boy remembered he had an important meeting at the same time, so we lost two before lunch. What important meeting do you have in the middle of the summer when you are 16-17? And these kids came from the Ag. department of the high school. Funny thing was how confused the mother was when she came to pick up his check and wondered why he was gone for two days and only got paid for 6 hours.... hahahahahaha. She asked my mom (now in her 70’s) what she should do to make him more responsible?? Can you believe it? My mom said, take his truck away. The lady looked at her like, “yeah sure, like that’s going to happen.” It makes you wonder. When I was their age (and younger), I hayed all summer - one year I put in 7500 bales. The last few years it has gotten harder and harder to find a teenager that can put in an 8 hour day.
Immediate termination. Why play games?