pay by act: discounting teenagers question

Pay by the Act: Discounting Teenagers

Consider –

“When I hire local teenagers to do odd jobs, I pay about what they’d
earn at a fast-food restaurant. I pay adults doing similar work at least
twice as much and add a hefty tip, since they have families and basic
living expenses.  It’s not the money but the message:  I do not want the
teenagers to think this might provide a lucrative career.  Is this pay
inequality ethical?”

Statement by Joan Hess, Fayetteville, AR, reported in Cohen, Richard,
“DISCOUNTING TEENS: THE ETHICIST,” NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 22, 2002.

What do you think?  Consider formal workplace employment–Would your
answer be different.  Comment on modern human resources policies
concerning differential compensation.