To expect my 16 yr old to get full time work for the summer?

[whatthewhatthewhat]

At least 8 weeks until they go back to school for A-Levels. I worked full time at that age. AIBU to think they should get a job for the summer?

Other general rules for 13 – 16 year olds are that: they cannot work before 7am and after 7pm; they must have a break from work of at least 2 weeks a year; and. they must have a rest break of 1 hour for every 4 hours worked

Employment laws also for those working age 16.

Full time? Wow! Yabu. It would be nice for them to work. Are you going to help them find this illusive work and ferry them back and forth??

It's not that easy these days. Unless they temp for free for the experience- then people will happily have them. My cousin applied for close to 80 jobs last year, and nothing. Who wants to hire an untested 16 year old? So she ended up doing part time unpaid "job experience", which though unpaid got her the references she needed for a part time weekend job after she started college.

Yabu. And sound like you’re putting a lot of pressure on your poor kid.

I wasn’t bothered at 16, but my 18 year old just returned from university and has done fuck all. My 20 year old (also at university) has 3 jobs! I think it is the principle of it isn’t it OP? They are dicking around all day, lying in bed, while we are out at work. There is no reason a 16 year old shouldn’t be working, maybe not full time, but they need some focus.

She's just finished school. GCSE's are mentally and physically draining. Full time work? Give her a bloody break.

You would be better off encouraging your dv to get a Saturday job they can do alongside Alevels and pick up a few extra shifts. No need for a 16 year old student to work full time. Earning their own money is an essential life skill for the next step, but this is their last summer of their childhood, there needs to be a balance.

Full time is a lot to expect from a 16 yo. You only get those long summers when you’re a child, and they get them because they need time to rest / grow / socialise / develop. I totally support part time working, but I think it’s pretty unreasonable to expect them to do it full time.

My Dd got a job in a hotel at 16 and then worked the breakfast shift instead of events in the holidays. Ds is now 16 and collects glasses in the bowling club.

It's been hard for a number of their friends to find any work at all.

Maybe not full time but it’s not unreasonable at all to expect them to pick up some type of job! I expect that of my DSS, there are actually a lot of jobs out there 16 year olds can do..... Tesco / McDs / Lidl / Home bargains etc you get ideas!

At 16 mine were:
Babysitting
Caddying
Playing tennis
Swimming
Reading
Seeing friends
Growing up

Working for money is really important for the development of independence and self-confidence. Maybe not fulltime, but definately some paid work.

I’m guessing it’s a while since you had a temp job, @whatthewhatthewhat It’s really not the case that you can just wander into an agency and start a job for six weeks.

Firstly, everyone wants experience. Hell, I’ve got YEARS of experience and struggled to get a temp job. Even catering etc expect experience. Secondly, most jobs aren’t just for a few weeks. Anything that is, is a job where they expect the temp to land running, which brings us back to experience.

Give your kid a break. Sure, a part time job isn’t unreasonable but let them have a bloody break.

I think 16 is still quite young.

Personally I would support them for all necessities (including one hol with family or friends) and expect them to work for any luxuries that they may want.

They do need a break though! They have just finished GCSES and will start A levels. If they work all summer, they will be absolutely exhausted.

I think full time is too much. My dd is the same age and she is looking for a Saturday/ weekend job but to be honest I’m just really looking forward to spending lots of time with her over the summer! I think it might be the last time for a while that she wants to actually do things with me! She’s seeing her friends as well obviously but it’s nice that she’s home more (although I’m a sahm and also have a disabled ds so I don’t get much 121 time with dd).

I'm all for teens working but in my area there is zero chance of a tempo for the summer. Obviously you may live somewhere more touristy and it might be an option but it's mid June, are employers waiting for the gcses to finish before making sure they have enough staff ?

Maybe give us an idea of where you think the jobs are and it would be easier to judge - down the pits probably not great, wiping tables might be realistic.

Other general rules for 13 – 16 year olds are that: they cannot work before 7am and after 7pm; they must have a break from work of at least 2 weeks a year; and. they must have a rest break of 1 hour for every 4 hours worked

Employment laws also for those working age 16.

There's no restriction on working before 7am or after 7pm for adults - it would make nightshifts a little difficult. And you're entitled to a break of 20 minutes at 6 hours, not an hour at 4 hours.

Mine did National Citizen Service for 4 weeks after GCSEs last year. That was an real learning/ self-development experience for him and he raised funds and awareness for a suicide charity. He also came away with family for a couple of breaks- probably last time we'll have that 'family holiday' together.
I'm not against a job- him earning some money would be really helpful. And it's not like he'd worked hard at school and deserved a lovely summer of freedom, he hadnt... I just don't know where these fuller part time summer jobs for 16 year olds are. In my city, they are competing with 18-21 year old students looking for summer jobs, and the older ones are preferred.

Oops I see now it says 16, my bleary brain read it as 18. My apologies.

I think a few hours a week would be a good idea. Let them enjoy the summer.

I still remember that lovely long summer break after my GCSEs.

My ds finished his GCSEs this time last year. He wasn’t interested in working and we certainly didn’t push it. He just had a great summer with his mates.

I'd prefer mine to have some actual holiday. Part time work yes, full time no. They've got years and years and years ahead of work.

Can't believe how many people on here don't expect their teens to get a bit of a job . I was Sat working from 14 , worked all holidays since then through Uni etc .No wonder we are getting so many snowflakes in this country now .

@Havenly yes my dd is going to do that too, I think it will be really good for her, she’s very excited about it.

I think YABU ,they have their whole lives to work.If they have been working hard at school ,and with a busy year ahead I think they need a bit of downtime.Maybe a pt job if they fancy that,,but no more than that I am happy to support them, that's what I work for