To think that by financing our teenagers lifestyles we are creating a generation of people that don't know how to work.

[Sunshinegirls]

We own a business and when we employ a young person (18/24) we struggle with them. They have no idea how to work, they are lazy, they are entitled.
Reading another thread just now it has occurred to me that it is the fault of today's parents.
When I was a teenager, I had summer and weekend jobs to pay for anything I wanted. My parents still fed and clothed me for school, but fashion items, possessions and leisure activities were financed by myself. It seems these days that (some) teenagers get everything bought for them and as such are growing up to be entitled and work shy.
Surely if a teen wants a gadget, they have to get a job to pay for the gadget?

I agree , good luck to all those waiting for results , I have 1 with a level results tomorrow and twins with gcse results in a week ,
Also 2 older dcs who graduate next year and need to find pre reg years ,1 optician , already sorted I think , 1 dentist still to go through the pre reg process !

And don't get me started number who get their mums to phone in sick for them. We've had several turn up for interviews with them, expecting to sit in the waiting room and one even asked to come in and listen to the interview.

Ok, totally accept that I am being unreasonable to generalise, it wasn't my intention but that isn't clear in my original post. Apologies to all that are upset.

What WAS your intention then?

Boysofmelody,
Common factors include constantly calling in sick, or I should say texting in sick or even getting their parents to do it.
Coming in to work with obvious hangovers.
Often sleeping in.
Disappearing off to smoke or look at their phones.
Moodiness and poor attitude, we have had slight aggression too when asked to do something.

It seems we have been unlucky though.

I think results are online Sparkling but dd has opted to go in with her friends to get hers, and she will text or call me when she has them. I think if it's a call it's good news a text no so good so fingers crossed.

It is indeed Portia.

Gins all round?

I don't think young people are entitled or spoiled, Unpopular opinion probably doesn't notice those that got it all as teens and are now doing ridiculously well.

I know people of all sorts .

We also have a whole TV series about very wealthy young people who have it all, and don't work. Made in Chelsea lol

I know quite a few parents who don't want their teens to have a Saturday job so they can "concentrate on their education PlayStation ". They are usually the same ones who then get stressed that their darlings aren't revising enough come exam time.

DD is going in with friends, one of them has gone to get her legs waxed just in case she has to be in the jumping up and down photo.

Can't tar with the same brush though!

Oh yes all round

Aren't laws governing when kids can/Can't work stricter these days as well?? Back in the day you could do a paper round at 11 or babysit at 13 or do a Saturday job and no one batted an eyelid. I think you have to be older these days. And yes, I do agree with the op to a point, I've worked in jobs where the weekend bar staff (18-21) often fail to turn up for their shift/phone in sick (hungover)/get Mummy to phone in sick for them/stand around chatting rather than thinking for themselves "what job could I be doing while it's quiet?"/v little incentive to think for themselves/constantly need spoon feeding and instruction etc etc

DS is going to do a 24 mile round trip to school and bring the envelope home to open in private.

I'm a single well divorced Mum and my teen hasn't had what she wants just what she needs and she did an RNLI course to get her summer job
I hate stereotyping because everyone and every teen is different.

Maybe you need to have a look at your recruitment process

Yanbu.

I also employ weekend staff - age between 16-18. Have had a couple of gems that have gone on to do well.

They are far outweighed by those who can't be bothered to turn up on time, work at a reasonable pace or be polite to other members of the team.

Maybe the teens might be more motivated if you paid them what they were due?

I'll just leave this little quote I like here:

""The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for
authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place
of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their
households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They
contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties
at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers."

Socrates 469-399 BC.

My first job was at 24. I suggested getting a job as a teenager but my parents said that my work was school.
A-Levels took the same time and effort as a full time job, my parents wanted my energy on that and didn't want me distracted or over tired.
I then went to Uni and did a demanding 6 year course, some people managed to work some of the time, but it was rare. In the summers I relaxed or did volunteering.
I completed my course and went straight into a career - worked 2.5 years and am finishing a 6 month unemployed holiday which I planned and paid for myself with savings. I have a job in my field lined up for September.
I am so thankful that my parents supported me through it. Paying for a decent lifestyle for a teenager who's doing other things such as school/uni is not unreasonable if you can afford it. Nor does it make them entitled with no work ethic.

All my teens work. Quite frankly if i can drag my poorly arse to work I am not supporting people who live in my house who chose not to. Everyone puts in the pot.... ''tis a bit like 'Bread'. I am Ma Boswell :)

My 13 yr old dc1 mows neighbours' grass for £5 to earn himself some pocket money. That's about all he can get where we live but looking in here for more ideas for him.

I worked from age 13 9-5 in my holidays but I was able to be employed in the company my mother worked for I also did some free bar work to get into gigs from 14 (serving food btw - served alcohol when older but still underage) supervised by my father. Can't do any of that now - would be breaking the law.

But I take your point - we DO fund our dcs far more than we did a generation ago. But we also were largely off our parents' hands at 18. We got a job or we went to uni on a grant with fees paid. There's been a shift in what's expected of parents financially.

I pay for most of my youngest son`s stuff as he has had bad luck re career/jobs and is still living with me at home. He works sporadically and the feedback [husband works in same place] is that he is hardworking and goes above and beyond on times. I pay for his car and he lives with me scot free. He does think that money grows on trees but he is polite and helpful in the main. Hopefully he will join the forces soon and the work ethic he has now should hold him in good stead for that.

When I was 16 (ten years ago) there was a Saturday job for 4 hours up in the local shop no experience needed 16+.

Perfect you would say right? Wrong! My application wasn't even accepted as I wasn't fully flexible during the week to cover sickness and holidays (only no over time on offer). How are you supposed to get a part time job when lots of employers expect lots of availablity with no guarantees in return.

bathilda

Love that how reassuring that actually nothing changes.

My dds get A level results tomorrow too. Fingers crossed for all.

Op I don't think you have a point as it was ever thus. My 5 have had jobs from 16 onwards mainly glass collecting and babysitting although one did start his own lawn mowing round

You can pick out the toddlers who become the entitled teens you mention op by looking at the parents

They are the ones constantly accusing teachers of being wrong and picking on their darlings.

My child would never.... and there you have the words used by idiot parents

Trying to get a job as a teenager is hard... some places need experience (how can they get experience if no-one will employ them)? Paper rounds are not as popular anymore.

There are a few places that will take on 16/17 year olds, but most places are looking for people that are fully flexible with their availability and are over 18... not a lot they can do if they're at school/sixth form/college unless they decide to take on an apprenticeship.

My 17 year old works 16 hours a week on top of college in a fairy physically hard job. I honestly don't know of any if5 his peers that don't work at all. The only difference to when I was a teen (I'm 41) is that it is virtually impossible to job a job apart from babysitting before 16, whereas I worked in a shop from 15.

I agree I despair of my DD , she's 16 and has 0 work ethic and somehow feels she'll just roll into a top position. I worked evenings and all weekend from 14. I've cut her allowance to a minimal amount but she'd rather go without luxuries (but whine about wanting them 24/7). I applied for a job on her behalf she got an interview, she didn't show up as she "doesn't want minimum wage".