What's the minimum age to work?

[musicposy]

My DD has just turned 14 and is desperate to get a little Saturday job. There's so many things she wants that are out of our reach financially, she says she'd like to have more means of saving up for things. Most people have said they think it's 16, though.

Anyone know? She currently helps her ballet teacher on a Saturday but that's for free and I think, although it's been good experience for her for a year-ish, that she thinks she might as well be being paid for something.

[ShinyAndNew]

It depends entirely upon where the job is/what the hours are/what its doing etc.

For example at 14 she could work in a shop, but she would be very limited in the hours and things that she could do. She would not be able to lift boxes for shelf stacking, work more than an hour on a school day or two hours per day at the weekend.

T'is all very complicated, from what I can remember. SS were called out to a take out I worked in as an older teen because they had their children working there at aged 11 - 16 (3 children). They were happy for the children to continue working if they abided by the guidelines.

So legally she would be able to work, but being so limited in what she could do, I'd imagine she will find it hard to get someone willing to take her on. The only thing I could think off would be a paper round.

[musicposy]

Yes, I think she's going to find it hard to get someone to employ her. I suppose she can try. Annoyingly I think it might only be a paper round but she's not available before school hours and our village newsagent closed down about a year ago, so it would mean driving her into town every day in any case.

Thanks for the info, anyway!

[ShinyAndNew]

I used to work in a burger bar when I was 14. We live near a beach so seasonal work is easy to pick up in the summer, but that wasn't at all entirely legal. So she could try. There are some unscrouplous employers out there that will take advantage of the fact that there is no minimum wage for those under 16. But she will be working for a pittance.

Perhaps babysitting a few hours on a Saturday afternoon? Car washing with friends? Running errands for older people?

[coldtits]

She wll make her best mney frm babysttng

[mumeeee]

Yes it is 16 for most jobs now. If they are under 16 employers have to get a work permit for them. Aslo there is a restriction on the hours an under 16 can work.Shops don't emploty 14 year olds now. They have to have thier NI number to do that

[GypsyMoth]

didnt realise it had all changed like this. myy dd is 15 and looking for something also.

she babysits for a friend and just gets a tenner and some pringles and coke provided! she WAS happy with that til she overheard some girls saying they got £20+ for 3 hours.

so now she wants more....or something else.

[GypsyMoth]

her friend works in the cafe part of the local garden centre,tho 16 now,she was 15 when she started

card up in a shop maybe? would she babysit?

[Remotew]

My DD has been working in a shop on a Saturday since she was 14. There is information on the net to the types of work and restrictions on hours.