Managing labor costs with high schoolers is a balancing act, but completely doable. Drawing from my background managing teams, heavy machinery, and production budgets
Relying entirely on a high hourly wage often backfires because there’s no urgency. Guarantee a fair base hourly rate, but tie their real earning potential to output bonuses (e.g., an extra dollar amount per cord split, or per premium bundle wrapped for your grocery accounts). If they hustle, they make great money, and your profit margins stay.
Teenagers need black-and-white expectations. Don't just tell them to "work hard." Give them a daily target, like stacking a specific number of pallets or wrapping a set number of bundles per shift. Just make the bonus contingent on quality control so they don't do a sloppy job.
If you hire a few kids who are friends, peer pressure can work in your favor. Set a collective monthly production goal. If the crew hits it without safety issues or client complaints, reward them with a team bonus. They’ll naturally keep each other off their phones and focused on the job. Give them a fair floor to stand on, and let their own hustle dictate their take-home pay. It protects your cash flow and weeds out the slackers fast.
