Krištopans and chef Bērziņš: excessive pampering leaves young people unprepared for work

On the TV24 program “Preses klubs,” Member of the European Parliament Vilis Krištopans from the “Patriots for Europe” group and chef Endijs Bērziņš, co-owner of the company “Vairāk Saules,” discussed the upbringing of the younger generation and its attitude toward work.

Krištopans noted that today's parents find it difficult to refuse their children's wishes, but excessive pampering can lead to negative consequences later on. He stressed that raising children in overly comfortable, "greenhouse" conditions can have a poor effect on their future lives. Speaking about his own grandchildren's generation, the politician observed that children today lack for almost nothing materially — they have access to technology such as iPhones and iPads, along with various gifts from both parents and grandparents.

An example from work experience

Bērziņš shared a specific case from his own business experience. His company employed a 23-year-old worker who had to be dismissed after just one month due to laziness — the young man spent his working hours on his phone and avoided his duties. After the dismissal, the employee's father came to the company to ask why his son had been let go, which struck Bērziņš as surprising given the employee's adult age. The chef admitted he himself would have felt embarrassed in such a situation.

A broader problem across Europe

Krištopans also drew attention to the wider issue of generational turnover in the European labor market, referring to conversations with German MEPs. He mentioned that in Germany, around 400,000 people retire each year, but only a fraction of them can be replaced. The politician explained that young workers entering the labor market are often unprepared, lacking the necessary skills and experience while expecting full workplace equipment from the start. In his view, this represents a significant problem across Europe.