News

Employing Young Workers

With the start of the summer holidays upon us, you may be approached by a young person looking for a summer job. In employment terms, a young person is classed as someone under the school leaver age of eighteen.

If you have a vacancy and are thinking of employing a young person, then here are a few things you need to take into consideration:-

• A young person is not allowed to work without an employment permit issued by the education department of the local council, if this is required by local bylaws. The local bylaws will also detail types of employment which the young person is restricted from undertaking for example working in a factory or a pub.
• During school holidays, 15 to 16 years olds can only work a maximum of 35 hours week - a maximum of 8 hours on week days and Saturdays and a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday. For 13 and 14 year olds, during school holiday they are only allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours a week - a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays an a maximum of 2 hours on a Sunday. Please note that different rules apply during TermTime.
• A young person is not permitted to start wok before 7:00 am or work past 7:00 pm (although there are some exceptions for example newspaper deliveries).
• The young person must have twelve hours' rest between each working day and 48 hour rest break per working week. They are also entitled to a minimum 30 minute break when they are working for longer than four and a half hours a day.
• As an employer you have the same responsibilites for their health, safety and welfare as they do for other employees and must do a risk assessment before employing the young person - taking into consideration their age, lack of experience and other things that could be a risk to their health and safety.
• And finally, if the young person is 16 or over they are entitled to earn a minimum of £3.79 per hour (under the National Minimum Wage) and should be paid through PAYE.