[Megaross]

No employer is going to risk that fine to employ you for 5 hours a week mate, except maybe really shady places. You might get a leafleting job which works out less than minimum wage or something.

[M1011]

(Original post by fairysdad)
Even just five hours at £2/wk would more than double my weekly

40p an hour? Damn times are hard

[Ascendansy]

Might as well work as a prostitute...

[M1011]

(Original post by emclme)
Can I ask something?
I started "voluntary" work for experience, I never said it was voluntary but I only cared about getting as much experience as possible, so I didn't mind working for free. After my second week they paid me £10 for 4 hours of work each Saturday, I've been working there for 5-6 months now and I still get £10. I'm 18 and I know that this is far bellow minimum wage, but because it started off as volunteer work I'm not sure if I should be getting minimum wage. I'm happy with my £10 but I'm saving for University and I'm not living with my parents so I just wanted to know if I should be getting more, for what I work. I'm not going to ask for minimum wage, even if I'm entitled to it, I'm just curious if I should get it, or not.
Thank you for reading.

Are you actually getting valuable experience? I imagine (this is an educated guess) that it would probably be acceptable to give you nothing and say it was valuable work experience, but illegal to give you £10 as this constitutes a financial incentive which is below the minimum wage. That said, I wouldn't attack a company that gave me the opportunity to gain experience and gave me a fee (however nominal) which was not a prerequisite of my employment. If you really want more money, just say you'd like to join on as a permanent employee (albeit for a limited period until University) or you'll be moving elsewhere. Of course the risk is that they say

[emclme]

(Original post by M1011)
Are you actually getting valuable experience? I imagine (this is an educated guess) that it would probably be acceptable to give you nothing and say it was valuable work experience, but illegal to give you £10 as this constitutes a financial incentive which is below the minimum wage. That said, I wouldn't attack a company that gave me the opportunity to gain experience and gave me a fee (however nominal) which was not a prerequisite of my employment. If you really want more money, just say you'd like to join on as a permanent employee (albeit for a limited period until University) or you'll be moving elsewhere. Of course the risk is that they say

Yes, well at first I thought that it was valuable experience, but reflecting back, I haven't exactly learnt anything new. I work with a tailor and at first they had me sewing, which I though was good experience, but now they tell me to clear up boxes for hours and sort out threads, obviously I wouldn't mind doing this if it was an actual job where I was paid at least minimum wage but because the only reason I'm there is for tailoring experience, I feel like they're using me a little. Regardless of the situation I wouldn't ask for any more money off them because I would feel rude. I think I might just give it up soon, anyway, because of exams. Thanks for your help

[tj_hinson]

Have a look at job sites like www.thestudentjob.com who specialise in jobs primarily aimed at students. Never ever lower yourself to believe that you are worth less than minimum wage!

Good luck in finding work!

[No Future]

Why bother working for £2 an hour? I don't get it

[alibee]

(Original post by emclme)
Yes, well at first I thought that it was valuable experience, but reflecting back, I haven't exactly learnt anything new. I work with a tailor and at first they had me sewing, which I though was good experience, but now they tell me to clear up boxes for hours and sort out threads, obviously I wouldn't mind doing this if it was an actual job where I was paid at least minimum wage but because the only reason I'm there is for tailoring experience, I feel like they're using me a little. Regardless of the situation I wouldn't ask for any more money off them because I would feel rude. I think I might just give it up soon, anyway, because of exams. Thanks for your help

Rude?

Why don't you speak to them and say as you're not actually employed there, you'd like to get the tailoring experience or you'd like to be employed for a wage. It's not rude.