working when 15 where can you and cant you work.

Hello I am interested in getting a Saturday job, I am 15 and I don’t know where to start. Should I just ask around in stores in the area. Is there any places that does or doesn’t let you work when you are 15? and will shops take me on for like x-mas temp ?? HELP !!!

Reply 1

AlexanderKing

12

Fraid Not Jose, Major companies (Argos, Sainsburys, Whatever) employ only those who are of the legal school leaving age and have a valid NIN card.

So, you can try paper rounds or maybe a local small time newsagents.

But not major stores.

Reply 2

Joanna May

15

Like said above, you have to be sixteen to work in most shops. Their insurance doesn't usually cover minors, so only particularly shady places will try and employ you at 15. The only person I know who had a job at 15 was in a grotty little café, where she was paid £2 an hour. There isn't a national minimum wage for under 16 year olds, so chances are that anyone who will employ you will probably take advantage of your youth.

Paper round, babysitting and chores seem to be your best chance. Maybe if you have friends or relatives who own small shops or businesses, they could find you a small job as a coffee-fetcher or a cashier, but no major reputable chain will take you on.

Reply 3

davireland

13

I would reconsider major companies because villageoaf2000 may not be completely right, my brother is 15 and he rang up the personnel manager at our local sainsburys (where I work part time) and she said they did consider people under 16 but there were special requirements and also one of my colleagues worked for sainsbury's when she was 15, it rle depends on the place. It isnt always set in stone tht they wont employ you just be aware of something Joanne May said, there is no minimum wage and also there are quite a few laws concerning the employment of minors.

Reply 4

Joanna May

15

davireland

I would reconsider major companies because villageoaf2000 may not be completely right, my brother is 15 and he rang up the personnel manager at our local sainsburys (where I work part time) and she said they did consider people under 16 but there were special requirements and also one of my colleagues worked for sainsbury's when she was 15, it rle depends on the place. It isnt always set in stone tht they wont employ you just be aware of something Joanne May said, there is no minimum wage and also there are quite a few laws concerning the employment of minors.

You need a National Insurance number to work properly in the UK. These aren't usually sent out until about two months before your 16th birthday. Any major company that hires you before you have an N.I number is breaking the law, unless you have a special permit from your LEA. The LEA has to issue this permit to all children under 16 who take on part time work, unless it's something fairly low paid or informal (although paper rounds and working in a parent's shop do requite a license, apparently). The council will then have to visit your prospective employer, do standard safety checks, interview the manager at length about the role you will play, and then they will consider letting you work there.

There are limits on the hours you can work, and the amount of overtime you can do. For example, under 16s can't work before 7am or after 7pm, or hours which total more that 12 in a week. They need more regular breaks. This means that most companies are unlikely to take on younger students, as there are so many restrictions and inconveniences that they can avoid by hiring someone who is even just a year older.

So while it isn't illegal to hire a 15 year old, very few companies would ever bother.

Reply 5

AlexanderKing

12

The other thing is, as a 15 year old, you arent very flexible whatsoever, you havent finished your mandatory exams, so you'll need ''revision'' time during weekends, and you arent able to work nights on weekdays etc etc as said above.

Reply 6

stepheh

12

i had a job in a chip shop when i was 15 - got paid £4 an hour. which is really good considering minimum wage for 16 year olds is something rubbish like £3.30.

so yeah.. basically try privately owned food shops, and newsagents

Reply 7

radio1234

your best bet would be working somewhere locally in a small business. Larger companies e.g. supermarkets and places like WHSmith, M&S are unlikely to take you on when their are like 16 year olds who are no longer in compulsory education, have National Insurance numbers and involve much less paper work, extra insurance and can work longer hours. What about asking family friends if they know anyone who is hiring or people you know if you can help out at the weekend? Or small jobs like babysitting, grass cutting locally, paper rounds etc are perfect at that age..

Reply 8

makeshiftwings

1

I think WH Smiths do employ 15 years olds quite regularly.

Reply 9

strongmotive

My friend worked in a garden centre @ 15.

Reply 10

BibbleJW

12

My advice would be to try a few local restaurants/eatery places. I know a few people who were waiters/potwashers at as low as 14. The pay might not be too great, but it is a little extra money, and they will probably understand not wanting too many hours.

Reply 11

busystudent

7

You could always persuade a family member to take out a paper round in their name (ie the free papers) and you share the money although the pay will depend on the number of papers and leaflets each week!

Reply 12

Juno

20

BibbleJW

My advice would be to try a few local restaurants/eatery places. I know a few people who were waiters/potwashers at as low as 14. The pay might not be too great, but it is a little extra money, and they will probably understand not wanting too many hours.

you're not allowed to work in commercial kitchens when you're under 16

Reply 13

andy_cole2

14

farm shops other forms of local shops golf clubs groundsman stuff farm hands etc etc paper rounds anything that isn't all that commercial is the best place to look

Reply 14

shazyx

Yes I have just been onto the whsmith website and they say they employ 15 year olds reguraly so try there.😀

Reply 15

Juno

20

Original post by shazyx

Yes I have just been onto the whsmith website and they say they employ 15 year olds reguraly so try there.😀

The thread is from 2007

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 16

jensengodwin

4

there Is a national wage you have to be paid when your under 16 I am 14 nearly 15 and I have to be payed over 4.35 so the person who is getting payed 2 pounds an hour you might want to tell them to speak to their boss because it is highly illegal. Also you can work in some major stores such as McDonalds and Morrisons but you can only do certain things and only certain stores take you and I think it is to do with where it is. the only problem with getting a job under 16 is you can't get many hours legally some local places let under 16 year olds work more than there supposed too but major stores will be more strict so in the end you won't get as much money as what you would get at a major store!

Reply 17

peaceisosa

i know boots and whsmith hire at 15

working when 15 where can you and cant you work.

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