We don't use labor directly here, for the reason onthegomom asked about. We want work to feel positive.
A little complicated, but here is what we are doing now:
DS9 has a point system. Do something good, earn a point (categories of pointworthy items specified by me, and changing over time, including respectful behavior, thinking of others, accepting consequences gracefully, etc.).
Do something disrespectful, and you lose 1, 3, 5, 10, or 30 points, sequentially. (First you lose 1, then IF it continues you lose 3, then 5, 10, 30 as you escalate in disrespect or fail to turn it around.)
You lose faster than you gain, so to earn points back, you have to do far more good than wrong. Chores above and beyond the usual requirements can be used to dig your way out of a hole (hence, they feel positive in this system). DS has been known to do laundry in desperation if he's down to -30.
If you're above 0, you have full privileges (including screen time). Between -30 and 0, partial privileges (not severe, but not ideal). If you're in partial privileges status, it resets the next morning. Below -30, no privileges until you're back up at 0 again, with no reset the next morning, which means if you're awful, you're looking at more than a week with no privileges.
Complicated, but effective. DS keeps a tally sheet in his pocket and is responsible for keeping track.
DeeDee
