The Tories have said they will relax rules to make it easier for teenagers to find jobs, allowing them to work until midnight at weekends and not have to take as many breaks between shifts. Not a moment too soon, according to the article.
Saturday Jobs as a Foundation for Life
Saturday and holiday jobs were the making of the author and many others, establishing the work ethic, introducing the solemn pleasure of earning money, and teaching that hard work earns rewards. It also teaches that work is not always fun.
The author's first jobs included babysitting neighbours, a stint in a butchers where the smell of meat made her feel sick, a clothes shop so cold it risked chilblains, a monotonous clerk role filling envelopes, and a more enjoyable barmaid position while home from university.
Earning Rewards and Preparing for the Future
Part-time roles continued into adulthood, including a Saturday job at Burberry before its reinvention while a law student in London, where there was massive competition to work in the expensive raincoat section versus the cheaper sweater area. They earned commission, and those who sold the most got the most, which was a very good preparation for the future.
The author also picked up small gigs like leafletting for pocket money, which she notes is the kind of thing Angela Rayner wants to ban. The author still remembers the outfit bought after saving for months from her Saturday job—a silky top and tweed skirt from the smartest shop in Altrincham, worn for years, enjoyed all the more because she worked for it. There really is no better lesson for the rest of your life, she concludes.
