To ask why young people without children work part time?

[RosesinGranGransgarden]

Going to get flamed for this but here goes!

In every single job I've been in I've worked with people younger than me who work part time hours. I can't quite get my head around it.
In my previous job I was a retail manager. Most of the staff were young, 20-30, none had kids apart from me and one other lady. We used to have a sheet of overtime shifts up and I used to have to beg staff to work it. These are young people, not studying, none with disabilities that they disclosed to me, most were renting/ house sharing. I never understood why they didn't want to work more hours, get more money for house deposits, travelling etc.
Another job I was an admin assistant and two or three of the other admin were young women, married with no children, who worked three or four days a week. Why?! Even if their husbands earned enough to support them, shouldn't they have worked to save for maternity leave, holidays, nice car etc.
I know money doesn't motivate a lot of people but as a young, childfree person, I would have never thought to apply for a part time job, unless I could be assured there was overtime. If not for financial reasons then just out of boredom, as all my friends would have been working full time.
Currently I work 32 hours due to no afterschool club, my colleague works the same hours. She said to me yesterday she wants to drop a day as she's exhausted. She's 28?! We work in an office together. She moans about not being a homeowner, why not work more hours?
Sorry rant over.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I kind of see where you’re coming from but the social side isn’t always there. In some jobs I’ve had in my 20s, the majority of my co-workers were women in their mid-30s/early 40s with school aged DC and family they wanted to get back home to. I mean, we’d go out if someone was leaving or something but no drinks after work on a Friday kind of thing. Other times I’ve been working in the nearest city to my small town and so not had the freedom to socialise due to having to work it round trains/buses and I’m
not talking London here; the last train to my local station leaves the city before 6:30 pm (not Covid timetable, this is the regular time for that line). It would have meant getting a taxi which would have been expensive.

I did do a bit more work socialising when I worked and lived in/around London which was nice though. Can’t do it in my current role as half the team do mornings, the other half do lates and we switch week by week. Have to drive to get in for an early or home off a late and we all live (apart from a couple of them) in completely different directions.

I’m now 40 and while I have people at work I’d consider friends and we talk about anything and everything and support each other etc. I’d still rather just do 2/3 days a week. I did choose a job that involves working lates and weekends but I’d far rather do less, I wouldn’t particularly mind which 3 days I worked or if they were on a rolling basis and different every week but I’d just love two extra days of me time. I’m not particularly expensive either so I wouldn’t miss out on much.

I'm 43 & childless, people who don't know me well seem to wonder why I only work 22.5 hours a week.
Well I have schizoaffective disorder but I literally don't even tell my best friends.
The symptoms of paranoia & hallucinations are very much brought on by work stress & tiredness.
I take high dose anti psychotics & anti depressants that make me very fatigued easily.
I also have epilepsy with more strong medication.

Often people may have problems you don't know about!!
This is to everyone-
When at work don't be too nosy and ask things like why are you single, why are you pt, & most upsetting why don't you have children?? Just don't.

DC are 17 and 15. I'm a nurse and couldn't stand to work ft, it would finish me off. Luckily I don't have to. So I don't. Life's too short to spend it doing things you don't want to. Why make it difficult?

I worked part time until I was 21. It afforded me the time to pursue other interests.

My DH worked 3 part time jobs for some time when he was 26. It was all that was around at the time.

I work part time again now (only 2 days, although furloughed currently), and I doubt I’ll ever go back full time. I’m 37.

I'm 25 years old and work a 30 hour week in a busy city centre pharmacy. Mentally and physically this is a very demanding job (which also tends to be very misunderstood!) so while I am still living at home and my outgoings are covered by my part time income, there is no need for me to work an extra day in my opinion.

There are many reasons a young person may not want to work full time. In my case, I've suffered from anxiety, depression and bipolar since I was 12 years old so my current situation is perfect as it allows me to enjoy a fast-paced job and a routine but also have enough time between shifts to switch off and take care of myself and have fun, something which I used to struggle with while at school and college 'full time'. When the time comes to moving out with my partner, I probably will have to try to pick up an extra day if possible.

A few months ago I was asked by another colleague if I could cover one of their shifts but as I had an appointment that day that I had already had to reschedule three times, I declined. I then overheard the colleague bitching about how I had "no excuse" not to take on anymore shifts as I don't have children and am not married!
I might not have the responsibility of raising children, keeping a house and having a career at the same time but I do have parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunties, uncles, a partner, friends and pets that I want to spend as much time with as possible while also spending time with myself and doing things I enjoy (and also making sure my share of the housework is done!). Especially during this pandemic I've realised that for me, life is far too short to worry about money, work and assets.

Sorry for the extremely long post, I clearly have too much time on my hands on my three days off this week!

People in their 20s do have more disposable income now than they did in the past because they have are settling down and having children later and continuing to live with their parents in many cases not quite sure on this tbh, either you aren’t living at home and paying a shit load of rent or I’d say most of my friends saved a lot to save for a mortgage.

It’s interesting to hear many reasons- I would be a little peeved with a child of mine who was healthy and fit in their 20s choosing to only work 4days a week to spend an extra day reading, cleaning or even pursuing a hobby, (side business or studying completely valid). It’s not about living to work but carving out a future and having some drive.

I don’t think it’s that common, I’m late twenties and all my friends work full time unless they’re also studying or working part time at two different jobs (my sister is 20 and she has 3 jobs!)

I can see the appeal though! I’d rather have more time and less stress rather than holidays or flashy cars. I do have a kid but if I didn’t and I could afford to work part time I would go for it.

@MayYouLiveInInterestingTimes

We were moulded and shaped by the generations prior to us and their actions, your generation, you absolute doughnut.

That's put it rather more succinctly than my long-winded post. Work does not pay the way it used to. It all goes to landlords. What's the point?? Answer that, give me a reason.

And this is it, for a lot of younger people now who know the trappings of home ownership will be beyond them and more work won't bring stability. Why bust a gut for something that isn't going to be achievable anyway? It's not logical. OP says she lives in an expensive city, so odds are at least part of it is down to this.

All these replies are making me wish I'd stuck to 4 days a week rather than doing 5.

You must see that my post was not referring to those who are winding their career down or who have a fabulously well paid job that only needs a few days a week work.
If I was going to go with the example of my colleague, she's 28, they're trying to save for a house, her wife works 40 hours plus as a nurse. How would you feel if your other half in a different, less stressful job decided they wanted to cut your household income by a fifth?
I can see there's lots of different experiences but in general I would say the only way people can work part time in a low paid job is by someone else subsidising them, be that parents, a partner or the government.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

But that judgement and opinion of drive/future is to achieve something that you deem acceptable', not what a person actually wants to do

If it brings someone the ultimate happiness to take a day off, read books and relax in a park, if that is what brings them joy, then surely that is what drives them?

I know what drives me is the desire to not allow stress and the world to overwhelm me, that is what I call success. Not coming home going "that was a long day and I've got to do it all again tomorrow and I wish I didn't"

I always worked full time up until I had my children, I didnt know any different. Looking back, I now wish I had gone part time before having them, to enjoy my free time and have a better work life balance.
As long as you have enough money to be comfortable, there is so much more to life than work.

2007Millie I don’t care what other people do, my comment was regarding a child of mine and one in their 20s at that. I know that life is expensive, I don’t want my child to be all work and no play, but a whole day off in the working week to enjoy oneself when they have their evenings/ weekend/ holidays seems odd to me and a waste. I would hate for them to be stuck in a job they hate though, but rather than cut down a day I’d encourage them to find their passion. I guess I see a job as part of my life not just a way to fund my life.

@2007Millie this job was not stressful, it was a job in a quiet shop with 6 music on and loads of free food. It occasionally involved making houmous or testing that the olives were brined enough. Coffee on tap, very laid back managers If it stressed anyone out then they probably would be hard pushed to find an easier way to make money, unless kitten cuddler or ice cream tester vacancies came up!

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I feel like you're the only voice of reason on this thread. It's not good for young people to just cruise through, I mean, a whole day off for reading or going to the gym? That's a massively luxury that most people in their fifties don't have.

RosesinGranGransgarden thank you!
I Also think many posters are missing the “in yours 20s” part of your question, I get why older people cut down their working days, irrespective of children.

But wouldn't it be be better if they did have it? I mean, wouldn't life be better if we all had a day to spend reading and going to the gym?

I'm 45 and work very part-time, 1.5 days a week, as a PPA cover teacher in a primary school.

I do this because a) I want to do other things with my life than work and b) my DH and I are rich enough for either of us not to work at all if we choose to.

However I find it important to earn a little money for myself.

I worked PT or did temporary work, when I was a student

In my 20s
I rented
For a few years
I had a FT job
A PT job at the same company, in a different department
A second PT job
Sunday, no work

I saved up deposit + costs to buy property

Then moved to a better paying job, which enabled me to give up my PT jobs

I had lots of energy & enthusiasm at the time

I believe that some other people have other priorities or opportunities in life. That is their choice

I know a couple of people who work in UK for 6 months, then abroad for 6 months

People need 35 years contributions to obtain a full UK state pension

I did for a few months because I could. Figured I'd have a point in my life where I had no choice to work so chose to take advantage while I could.

I think @OnlyFoolsnMothers @RosesinGranGransgarden you'll just never understand. And I don't mean that disrespectfully, but the life some younger people desire is so far away from what you know that you'll simply never be able to comprehend why we make the decisions we do.

I would much rather have less money but have days off whilst still be able to afford the basics. That doesn't mean I don't have a drive, it doesn't mean I don't have a passion, it doesn't mean I need to try out 100 jobs until I find one that ticks all the boxes; it simply means that I find so much happiness in working less but doing more.

However, I think that from the responses on this thread, where quite a large majority have voiced that they wished they had gone part time sooner/not worked as much etc that possibly, my generation have got it right.

@kojolo it would but unfortunately the world we live in is still a capitalist society. I inherited a small amount of money from my grandparents and I would feel guilty if that money which they scrimped and saved and worked long hours for was used for me to work part time and not save for my future. Maybe it's immigrant mentality but you work hard when you're young and fit and enthusiastic so you can save for your future. Seems to make sense to me.
What's the alternative? Live in the now and then suddenly you're pregnant or evicted and have no security?

@StarUtopia and @fascinated and others on the tax credits/top up benefits side of things..

Who do you think that REALLY benefits in the long term? It's not the employees!

You've swallowed the coolaid there!

Such "benefits" are actually a disguise tax break to employers which allows them to UNDERPAY employees and pocket extra profits.

Do you REALLY think supermarkets, amazon etc can't afford to pay a proper living wage? Come off it!

They do very nicely out of that bit of deceit!

If you truly believe that, then surely it's your generation's fault for not instilling "good work ethic" instead of a "sense of entitlement". yep!

Although the idea that boomers and Gen x'ers (of which I am one) have no entitled folk in them is laughable!!

My dad has a similar attitude but he wilfully forgets that he was VERY LUCKY to

1 be born fit and healthy

2 be born at a time which meant when he left school in the 60's there was an economic boom meaning he LITERALLY walked into a relatively well paid (for his class and circumstances) job straight out of school even though he'd NO work experience and NO qualifications at that point

3 due to his fitness and ability to gain minimal qualifications FREE at evening classes he was able to join the army

4 because he served in the army he was able to retire in his 40's on a bloody good pension!

Clueless and entitled!

Then upon retiring he and mum were able to buy their house VERY cheap due to right to buy!

He has NO IDEA what it's like for youngsters starting out now, though I did enlighten him SLIGHTLY a few years ago when he crassly and stupidly commented "I don't know why your sister is struggling to find a job I see loads in the local paper"

Sister (who I'm no especial fan of we're nc so it's not like I'm her great defender) is a single mum to 3 following her ex's infidelity, they weren't married as he refused to so she didn't have that protection (yes I agree she was foolish to have 3 dc without being married AND be a sahm for their early years), she has a chronic pain condition which knackers her so most jobs involving lots of physical movement are out, childcare around here is hard to find and expensive and of course as in most parts of the Uk is mostly only available mon-fri 8-6, with closures for bank and local public holidays...

I actually sat and went through with him ALL the jobs being advertised not only in our county but up to the next big town along online as well as in paper and pointed out how they were undoable for her - hours not suitable, pay too low, too physical for her to manage, in a place she couldn't get to (she'd no car and public transport here is also shit - I even pointed out to him things like 'late shift ends 10pm, last bus from there is 6pm'), that she didn't have the experience or qualifications for certain jobs (and on occasion we agreed employers were taking piss there - eg demanding degree level qualifications for jobs paying not much more than nmw!) and couldn't get them (local colleges have suffered badly with cuts to funding resulting in many courses discontinued)

And that was all before I pointed out to him by showing him on the online sites how many applicants per vacancy there were.

He hasn't made any such comment to me since.

Very frustrating speaking with him or others of that generation who think similarly.

Come across it in people of my generation too who conveniently FORGET that we had grants for higher education, better access to and cheaper if not free additional further education if we wanted it - I've done loads of evening classes myself in courses beneficial to job hunting that were either cheap or free, that pay as a proportion of housing costs was much better for us, that pay generally was better for us etc

I think youngsters today have it bloody tough in terms of access to further and higher education, poor pay, poor employment rights, high housing costs, high public transport costs for pretty poor quality transport...

Lot of people with poor memories and whatever the opposite of rose tinted glasses is regarding how things were in the past!

However, I think that from the responses on this thread, where quite a large majority have voiced that they wished they had gone part time sooner/not worked as much etc that possibly, my generation have got it right and yet on a recent thread asking people what they wish they had done more before they had kids, most posters said they wished they’d climbed up the ladder more and secured their financial future.