Entrepreneur Criticizes Parents Labeling Teens as Summer Workers
Matthew Baumgartner, owner of June Farms in upstate New York and host of an Amazon Prime Video reality series, criticized parents who contact employers on behalf of their teenage children. In a short Instagram video released in late April, Baumgartner urged parents to let youths apply for themselves, claiming the practice signals a lack of motivation. The video quickly attracted views and comments, with several viewers noting similar experiences of parents attending job interviews or posting job requests on social media.
Baumgartner said the trend is especially common among older teens and young adults. He emphasized that initial outreach—whether by email or phone—provides insight into an applicant’s initiative. When a parent initiates contact, it removes that opportunity to assess the candidate’s self‑advocacy skills.
The criticism came after Baumgartner noticed an increase in parents orchestrating job applications for their children. He called the trend “embarrassing” and “dumb” because it undermines employment opportunities for motivated candidates. The comments on the video reflected a wider debate over whether parental involvement in job searches constitutes over‑helping or networking.