I’d start by figuring out what “productive” actually means in your business. For example, if a high school employee costs $18/hour after taxes, workers comp, and overhead, what tasks can they take off your plate that create more than $18/hour in value?
Once that’s clear, I’d build incentives around the outcomes that matter most—productivity, quality, attendance, safety, etc. The bigger challenge is usually creating a clear path for them to become productive quickly. Most high school students can contribute, but they often need more structure, coaching, and feedback than experienced employees.
I’d be curious what type of work they’d be doing. The answer probably looks different for mowing lawns than it does for painting, cleaning, or construction.
