Your rights at work
When you become employed, you have a number of legal rights. If you require help >> Info Zone for details of organisations that can provide specialist help and support. Or contact Connexions on 0800 358 3888.
National Minimum Wage
This is the lowest amount that employers can pay. However, it does not cover 16 and 17 year old apprentices. There are some other exceptions but generally, the following hourly rates apply: from October 2007:
- £3.40 for 16 and 17 year olds
- £4.60 for workers aged 18-21
- £5.52 for workers aged 22 and over.
Holiday entitlement
- Since 1 October 2007, you are allowed 4.8 weeks paid leave. In April 2009 this will rise to 5.6 weeks. Part-time staff are entitled toa pro-rata amount - 4.8 times their normal working week from 1 October 2007.
- Before this date you should have got at least 4 weeks paid leave per year (assuming you work for the organisation for the whole of that year). If you work part-time, your leave will be 4 times your weekly hours. Bank holidays were included in this entitlement.
Working Hours for young people
Here is a brief guide to the rules of young people working. For more information you can contact your local council.
Under 16 and 16+ in compulsory education
There are restrictions on the hours children and young people can work whilst still of compulsory school age. You cannot work if you are under the age of 13. (There are exceptions for public performances - these require a special permit).
Working on a school day
If you over 13 and below the school leaving age you can work for a maximum of 2 hours on a school day. This must be between 7am and half an hour before the start of school or between the end of the school day and 7pm.
Working weekends and holidays
If you are 13/14 year old you can work for a maximum of 5 hours on Saturday and during school holidays between 7am and 7pm. You can work for a maximum of 2 hours all year round on Sunday between 7am and 7pm. You cannot work for more than 12 hours in a school week.
If you are 15/16 years old you can work for a maximum of 8 hours on Saturday and school holidays between 7am and 7pm. On Sundays all year round, you can work a maximum of 2 hours between 7am and 7pm. You must not work more than 12 hours in a school week.
During school holidays, 13/14 year olds can work for a maximum of 25 hours and 15/16 year olds can work a maximum of 35 hours. You are entitled to a 2 week break from work during the school holidays. You are also allowed a one hour lunch break if you work for 4 hours at a time.
Restrictions
There are also restrictions on the type of work you can do whilst still of compulsory school age. For example you cannot sell or deliver alcohol, except in sealed containers, or work in clubs or cinemas. Go to your local authority website for more details:
http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Education/Employment/default.asp
http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=2597
Permits
Employers must get a work permit for under 16s; these can be obtained from your local authority.
Starting full-time work
If you are in year 11 you cannot legally start full time work until after the official school leaving date. This is the last Friday in June in England and Wales. But you can start applying for jobs before then.
You can work full time even if you are not yet 16 as long as you have reached the compulsory school leaving date. This applies to young people who turn 16 in July or August.
16+, 17, 18 year olds
Once you have reached the official school leaving date, there are fewer restrictions on what/where you can work.
You are allowed to work in environments that may be considered dangerous but only if it is necessary for your training and someone is supervising you supervise you to reduce the risks.
- Usually, you cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week. (There are some exceptions).
- You should not normally work between 10pm-6pm and 11pm - 7am. (There are some exceptions).
- If you work more than 4.5 hours at a time, you should have a 30 minute rest break.
- You should normally have at least 12 hours rest between each working day.
- You should have at least two days off each week. These should normally fall together.
Time off for Study or Training
The right to ‘Time Off for Study’ gives 16 and 17 year olds the right to have paid time off to take work related qualifications up to and including NVQ level 2, if you don’t have this level of qualification already.
Health and Safety
Young workers are particularly at risk when it comes to accidents in the work place. Your employer must do a risk assessment before you start work and must then see what they can do to reduce the risk. If you are below the school leaving age, your employer must inform your parent or carer of the findings of the risk assessment.