AIBU to think our 18 year olds should work instead of wasting away weekends?

To everyone saying they got part time jobs as soon as they turned 16, things are very different now. Very few employers will take on 16 year olds because their insurers won’t let them. I think it is safeguarding issues re employing minors. It’s hard enough finding businesses that will offer work experience now because of this. I myself did casual work in commercial greenhouses at 16. Those businesses won’t take on under 18s now.

How old are they all and what were they doing? I saw you mention earlier that one was 16 during covid.

My kids have all had jobs since 16 while in education.

See there is a bit of a consensus that it is harder for IB students to hold down part time jobs as the workload is more consistently intense from the get go, my kids joke it’s death by a thousand deadlines, vs one busy exam season rush.
I just feel that if they have a full weekend to waste away then they could have jobs!

Maybe because it was responding to a poster who is living in a by gone era with seemingly no appreciation as to the realities of the modern working World, nor the FACT we have a million unemployed young people which doesn't include all the students still in education. It's "dreadful" that people don't realise just how few jobs there are available for students these days.

They'll be telling us that today's kids should get paper rounds next - completely oblivious to the fact that barely anyone gets newspapers delivered anymore and there are very few newsagents shops either!

@Girliefriendlikespuppies

A levels should be 9-5 five days a week (at least) if DC are aiming for top grades.

Depends on your idea of luxuries really doesnt it.

Maybe because it was responding to a poster who is living in a by gone era with seemingly no appreciation as to the realities of the modern working World, nor the FACT we have a million unemployed young people which doesn't include all the students still in education. It's "dreadful" that people don't realise just how few jobs there are available for students these days.

They'll be telling us that today's kids should get paper rounds next - completely oblivious to the fact that barely anyone gets newspapers delivered anymore and there are very few newsagents shops either!

I don’t know anyone who still reads physical newspapers.

Maybe because it was responding to a poster who is living in a by gone era with seemingly no appreciation as to the realities of the modern working World, nor the FACT we have a million unemployed young people which doesn't include all the students still in education. It's "dreadful" that people don't realise just how few jobs there are available for students these days.

They'll be telling us that today's kids should get paper rounds next - completely oblivious to the fact that barely anyone gets newspapers delivered anymore and there are very few newsagents shops either!

There's supporting kids through education and buying luxuries. 2 different things

Why is it dreadful

It shouldn’t be about willing in my view. Parents need to understand that they have a responsibility to support their DC while in education.

That doesn’t mean buying Prada handbags, but I would certainly expect parents to fund reasonable socialising costs at this age.

Why is it dreadful

Jesus this is dreadful

You also can't be properly employed by most of the big chains until you get a NI number at 16. No shops legitimately hire 14 year olds. You need a permit to work via the council, signed by the school.

My DH used to work at 14 but they paid cash under the table. You couldn't do that now.

It's impossible for half a school year group to get Saturday jobs in Woolworths these days! Have you seen the state of most town's "High Streets". The big chains that employed loads of people have all gone, i.e. Woolies, C&A, Littlewoods, Debenhams, BHS, etc. The few chains that have survived like Boots, M&S, etc only run a skeleton staff due to self serve tills, NMW, Ers NIC rises, etc. Same with supermarkets - they don't have "Saturday" staff - again, staff numbers greatly depleted and they're all day operations with staff multi tasking between picking online shopping, stacking shelves, supervising the self service tills etc.

@Greenwitchartthat isn’t my philosophy 🤷‍♀️ my dd goes to college and manages a pt job and still manages plenty of time for doing nothing/socialising. I am currently sitting in my garden with a cuppa (although gearing up to mow the lawn) so do find time to relax.

As pp said this comes down in the most part to money, if you’re willing and able to give your kids a decent amount of pocket money and buy them all the extras as well then fine. I could afford to give my dd a small allowance and she got extras for bday and Christmas, if she wanted a new pair of expensive trainers or similar she needed to earn some money likewise if she wants to go out with her mates.

Im a single parent so will have less money and down time that couples I guess.

MN is a funny place though because all of my friends and family with teens have part time jobs, it would be more unusual for a teen not to work. All of DDs friends work as well.

When we were 14 , myself and about half the girls in my year all got Saturday jobs in Woolworths. They were the best times. We earned £4.20 for a whole Saturday - in those days it was a kings ransom. I then left school at 16 and went to work in a solicitors just off Chancery lane in London. I have worked all my life, and instilled that in my children, they all work hard and also from about 14. To have adults laying around the house, not earning a bean is teaching them absolutely nothing. Get them off their lazy backsides and out in the real world.

When we were 14 , myself and about half the girls in my year all got Saturday jobs in Woolworths. They were the best times. We earned £4.20 for a whole Saturday - in those days it was a kings ransom. I then left school at 16 and went to work in a solicitors just off Chancery lane in London. I have worked all my life, and instilled that in my children, they all work hard and also from about 14. To have adults laying around the house, not earning a bean is teaching them absolutely nothing. Get them off their lazy backsides and out in the real world.

First of all, I know they are 18 so I have no control over this, it’s more about the debate between DH and I.

DH and I have twins who are 18, in their last year of school, they are doing IB diploma so it’s quite intense, has a lot involved in it, exams start at the end of April and run through May.

We agreed to neither of them having part time jobs as between their studies and the extra things they have to do they wouldn’t have time. However this weekend I’m feeling quite annoyed about that, as neither of them are going to do anything remotely related to school.

Last night they went to a friends birthday party, got home at about 2am, they then along with DD sat up for the F1 sprint race. Went to sleep for a few hours woke back up for qualifying and went to sleep again afterwards. Now they have all gone to the pub where they will stay all day for the 6 nations matches. DD has said when she gets home she will watch the Indian wells tennis semi-finals, before going to sleep and waking up for the F1 tomorrow. They then all have tickets for a football game tomorrow, before going out for dinner with school friends.

I think this is a stupid amount of time to spend doing very little over a whole weekend, I don’t really enjoy watching sports but my kids do and I increasingly feel it takes up all of their time. DH thinks it’s fine, it’s culture and they can study another weekend. I think if they have the time to waste a weekend away in front of the TV, they have time to take on a part time job.

AIBU?