Most of his friends dont have jobs and their parents seem fine with that. But I think work teaches you stuff you can't learn anywhere else. Responsibility, how to handle a boss, earning money instead of just asking for it. He's pushing back pretty hard. Wondering if I'm being too strict or if this is actually important.
I had a job at 15 and worked through high school. Wouldn't change it. Built my resume early, learned to handle money, had my own pocket cash. But my kids are different people with different needs. Your son might surprise you if you just talk it through instead of laying down the law.
I think there's a middle ground here. My son got a job at 16 and honestly it taught him time management that his friends without jobs still don't have in college. But I also didn't force it - we talked about it and he wanted spending money for gaming stuff. Maybe ask your son what he wants instead of just expecting it?
The job thing isn't really about whether his friends have one or not. It's about what values you want to instill. Some kids need that lesson early, some figure it out later. What's driving this for you specifically?
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Not wrong for wanting him to work, but also his friends' parents aren't wrong for not pushing it. Teenagers have a lot on their plate these days with school and activities. Maybe compromise - part time job junior year instead?