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Labour relations

So I was enjoying a lie in this morning after a late finish to work, when my daughter called from school asking me to bring in her hockey skirt. Fifty minutes later, while I was handing over said clothing at the gate, she asked for a raise in her pocket money 🙄

Now times are hard and the value of money is eroded daily by inflation. But at the same time productivity has sharply fallen in our household since I sold my car (daughter used to clean it inside and out every three weeks as part of the chores she does for her allowance). So I don't think we have a very strong business case to present to the Board (my wife).

Being a Keynesian, I am all in favour of increasing the money supply regardless and boosting the local economy through sales of hair accessories, friendship bracelets, and Cadbury's fruit and nut bars 😝 But the economist in me wonders how just how sustainable this is or how the markets might react. My sister would go further and remove the link between pocket money and chores altogether. Although in theory I am in favour of a universal income, I still appreciate a helping hand with vacuuming and sweeping up leaves 🙂

Taken offguard, I meekly replied, "We will discuss it at dinnertime". So already I find myself in a weakened negotiating position 🤦‍♀️
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sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
At the risk of providing further evidence of my conservative tendencies, I'm with your sister! Remind her that she is no longer cleaning the car and that was in exchange for some of the prior pocket money arrangement. Put some chores on the table together with their value. Include some things she couldn't possibly do and some easy pickups. And then begin negotiating! ❤️❤️❤️
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@sarabee1995 Life used to be so simple until she started babysitting for the neighbours and learned how a constrained labour supply could work in her favour!

Negotiations with my teenager are more complex than with the average trade union. She cooks two meals a week and does most of our baking, which I regard as a high value chore but she views as a leisure activity. But then she never cleans up after herself which is infuriating and to my mind a possible breach of contract, lol 😊
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@SunshineGirl Oh! I see opportunity here! Btw, I love baking as well. It relaxes me. But cooking is a chore. Anyway, back to daughter ... In my home growing up, clean-up was a requirement anytime I would bake. That rule must be set even if just to create good habits. But yes, treat the whole thing (baking & cleanup) as a high-value thing so she can learn that some jobs can be enjoyable if she applies her skills properly!
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
@sarabee1995 In her old childrens' home she was the celebrity baker and lesser souls did the washing up if they harboured any ambition of getting a cake! I need to be firmer about kitchen rules 🙂