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.

I don’t know which part of the world you’re in OP but where I live there are ways and means of preventing or dealing with unwanted pregnancies. If you’re evicted (which requires a legal notice period) there are other places to live and agencies to help people out in such situations. You mention security. The past few months have shown many of us that security is an illusion. Nobody’s future is guaranteed: we only have now. Our lives can change beyond recognition in a second. Many people who I know have used their time in lockdown to reflect upon what they’ve been doing with their lives and a lot of them who have jobs to return to have requested to work part time as a result.

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.

There’s nothing like a dull job and beige colleagues to kill your enthusiasm and energy outright.

Of course it’s sensible to plan for retirement. I just hope you’re not one of those poor souls who drops dead weeks after they draw their pension. Would it not be more sensible to find a career, of have a business which is so enjoyable that you don’t want to retire? One of my music teachers was still teaching privately until she was in her late 80s.

There was a story on news a few years ago, which made me very thoughtful & has stayed with me

A young man, couldn't get a regular job
He borrowed money to become a self employed motorbike courier/delivery driver
He kept getting driving or parking fines, which reduced his income
He couldn't pay all the fines
The baliffs took his motorbike
He had no source of income
He committed suicide
At the inquest, the baliffs apologized for removing his motorbike

I am grateful for the opportunites that I've been given over the years

I've been a pizza delivery person & many other jobs....

You think you've not been rude, but you have for example?

@RosesinGranGransgarden

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.

Maybe though she takes care of the housework or finances or they have an allotment or other domestic things of which there could be dozens. That stuff doesn't go away because you aren't parents. If she takes care of that stuff it means her hard-working spouse doesn't need to and they can relax together when they are both off.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

You'd be peeved at your child if they didn't follow the life plan you would deem suitable.
You believe if you work part time then you are unlikely to have drive.
Etc.

Assumptions and opinions like this I find rude.

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

My son who’s early 40s has just given up work entirely. He paints and is selling enough work to live a frugal lifestyle. I’m absolutely delighted for him, his mental health has improved beyond measure even during lockdown. I’d have been just as delighted if he’d done it in his 20s. Our society is far too addicted to being wage slaves.

Could it be to do with benefits. If they work over certain hours or earn over a certain amount?

2007Millie yes that’s called an opinion, that wasn’t rude towards a specific poster.

I'm going part time soon, but won't be telling anyone at work so I don't have to put up with the "but you've got no children, why do you need to work part time?" comments.

I don't need to work part time, I want to work part time. There's more to life than work or children. Mind your own business.

To address the children comments, yes I have expectations for my children, we all do. Of course I want my children to live happy well rounded lives, my point is that imo happiness comes from having choices, choices primarily come from financial stability. I don’t advocate all work and no play.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

But implying that those who work part time have no drive, or that in all honesty you quite clearly believe that those who work part time aren't doing enough/doing what you think they should be doing, is rude to every person on this thread who works part time.

You're implying that someone like me, because I choose to work 3 days a week, has no drive. You're implying that my husband is the same.

And yet here we are bringing in over 80k between us. We own our house. We go on at least 3 holidays a year. Have 2 lovely cars on our drive.

What more would I achieve by working more?

Until I was 25 I worked 3 part time jobs because I couldn't get a full time role in any of the companies I worked for.

I'm not sure it's a choice as pps have said.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

To address the children comments, yes I have expectations for my children, we all do. Of course I want my children to live happy well rounded lives, my point is that imo happiness comes from having choices, choices primarily come from financial stability. I don’t advocate all work and no play.

But it isn’t all work and no play because they are working?

@OnlyFoolsnMothers apologies I phrased that badly. I mean it’s not all play and no work if you’re still working albeit part time? Financial brings choices yes but so does more time.

Our society is far too addicted to being wage slaves.

Totally agree. Not everyone wants a big mortgaged house, car, lots of consumer goods, holidays etc. People can create a great life for themselves with little expenditure if they’re so inclined.

If they value time rather than money, what’s wrong with that? It’s only our consumerist society that says otherwise.

The old Protestant work ethic has a lot to answer for!

I have no children and work part time and have done since my 20's. Im comfortable with the life I lead as I don't want nice cars, holidays because Im happy with the simple life I live and the things that I have in it.
In my 30's I reduced my hours further to 3 days a week due to a health condition. I never disclosed this to my colleagues and they constantly questioned why I couldn't pick up extra shifts when we were short staffed. Since then I have been diagnosed with cancer (which my colleagues don't know about) and although it is very treatable it has meant I get tired much quicker. I reduced my hours down by 4 hours a week just to help me a bit. Still my colleagues feel that its there place to question why I can't work extra, even though my manager knows why I can't and is completely understanding.
So I guess my point is although you might think its just a young person been lazy maybe they have a physical/mental condition, a family member they care for or maybe they are just so happy with their lifestyle that they don't want to work full time.
Everyone is different in life, why can't we just let people lead the life they chose, children or no children.

Sparklesocks unless an unusual hobby my experience for all me and my friends has been weekends, holidays and evenings were enough down time.
I actually took a sabbatical from work at 21 for 6 months after I became an orphan because I was having a breakdown, so I do understand the mental health aspect. Hence why I keep saying, assuming no underlying issues my opinions are based on a healthy, fit 20 something. Just my opinions

my experience for all me and my friends has been weekends, holidays and evenings were enough down time

And other people have a different view. Is that so hard to fathom?

Because we know we will be working until we are late 60s at least. Also we know that even with working and saving hard we can only just stretch to an ok house that we will be paying off until our 60s. It’s not about working for the long term goal anymore as that isn’t achievable. So we strive for a better work life balance for today.

One of my closest friends is in her late 30s and childless and despite having a high powered position in an advertising agency. She chose to move to having one day off. She was not absolutely in love with her job and the hours were a bit ridiculous. On her off day she did a hobby type course she had always wanted to do and was also able to research doing a masters and is now planning on writing a book. I think it’s a healthy way to get more work life balance.

2007Millie in your case clearly nothing. But your situation sounds slightly unique- I doubt many people in their 20s earn so well on so few days. In fact many people have said on this thread have said they work less days with no luxuries.
Out of interest if you didn’t have a partner and joint finances, would you still work 3 days?

That’s a really good point. I get the baby boomer mentality that you give your all during your working career, but they all anticipated retiring at 65 at the absolute latest. Many of them retired much earlier.

If you know full well you’ll be working much longer than that, yes you’ll want to pace yourself better.

And other people have a different view. Is that so hard to fathom? not at all- clearly you struggle with such terms as “in my opinion”

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I massively understand we are in a unique position in that part time work doesn't necessarily mean part time money, however, even if it was just me or even if I earned less by working part time, I would still do it.

I love walking through the park when it's not packed with people like on the hectic weekend. I enjoy driving along the road on days I'm off knowing I've not got anywhere to be and that I can have a few days like this. I thrive on not thinking "it'll be the weekend soon" and not having that Sunday feeling of knowing the 5 days week will start again tomorrow.

I would pick self peace, happiness and time over money. Every single time.