I am sure many of us feel very proud of doing the paper round. We got up early, worked for a couple of hours and then went to school. I remember always helping to milk the cows on Christmas Day. I think working when you are young is good for everyone. For one, it makes us understand money; £5 is just something your parents give you until you have to actually go and earn £5. Then, that £5 earned turns into an equivalent number of hours.
You now judge what you buy based on a value equation in hours worked. Was that extra McDonald’s in town worth an hour’s work? Maybe, or maybe not. One of our young workers bought herself an £800 handbag with the money she earned over Christmas – that’s not in my value equation, but clearly in hers.
Working young also teaches us to be on time. Too often, we run late, and too many parents I know tear their hair out trying to get the kids ready for school. Maybe working in hospitality is the same, but I think it teaches our youngsters that to be prompt is important. And, of course, they have to be well turned out too.
Another big lesson it teaches us is to relate to other people. Talking and asking questions of a wide variety of people, both customers and staff, is good for everyone. With loneliness being such a great problem among both old and young people, learning how to relate to others, start a conversation, look interested and be part of a community is essential.
And of course, it is the start of our working journey. The sooner we get going, the better. Developing a work ethic is so important for many people, and I struggle to see the benefit in delaying it when people are ready, and willing, to step into the workplace.
But look at the legislation on young people working – the main issue I have is the distinction between a Saturday and a Sunday. Young people can work a maximum of five hours on a Saturday and only two hours on a Sunday, even in school holidays. I understand the legislation about two hours on a school day, but on a Sunday, it doesn’t make sense.
I think it must have been written when children went to Sunday school. Even on school days, there are more strange rules. You can work for two hours a day, but not between 7am and 7pm. This suggests that it is good for a child to work 8pm-10pm rather than 5pm-7pm. I’m not entirely sure I agree.
At our sites, we have parents who are really keen for their children to do a four-hour shift on a Sunday. They recognise the value the children get from the experience. The kids love it too. I really can’t believe how much they enjoy their work and the people they work with. It’s also giving them a sense of independence – even if their parents still have to drop them off and pick them up.
Quite a few of them now have a whole new social life based around their fellow workers at the pub. Often, I see them popping in when they aren’t on shift because they want to catch up with their friend (hopefully after the shift, but not always). I was talking to one father about his daughter working, and he said it has grown her self-confidence massively. I, for one, am convinced that this is doing the children a world of good, and their performance at school will improve too.
I have looked for any evidence of whether working while at school helps or hinders achievement. I think all the studies are really short-sighted – they tend to look only at educational achievement and not whether the person ends up in work, or any measure of post-educational achievement. They do not look at light work and are skewed by those who need a full-time job to be able to afford their education.
This is a completely different case. It also, as we do much in society these days, removes any personal responsibility and parental responsibility. As parents, we can’t be trusted, it seems. Of course, I understand the exploitation argument. But I am sure there are ways around protecting the small minority without constraining the majority.
The sad thing is rules like this never seem to get looked at. There is little political capital to be gained, and it would take an awful lot of effort. Therefore, we are stuck with it. I wonder how many other instances there are of this.
Alastair Scott is chief executive of S4labour and owner of Malvern Inns
