Useful Facts When Employing Young People

Minimum Wage
This changes every year in October and the amount paid varies depending upon age.

Age                                            Amount per hour
16 to 17 year olds                      £3.68
18 to 20 year olds                      £4.98

When considering what to pay a new employee we would encourage you to pay them the going rate for the job irrespective of their age, taking into account their experience and trainee level. 

Hours of work
This varies.  Under 18 years but over the compulsory school age, a young worker cannot usually be made to work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week.  Young people aged 18 years and over have the same rights as an adult.

Health and Safety
When employing a young person it is possible that you will be their first employer and it is reasonable to expect that their awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace will be limited or non-existent.  Therefore it is vital that you introduce the importance of health and safety at work to them from the start of their employment.

When recruiting a 16 or 17 year old you are required by law to carry out a risk assessment of the job and workplace in which they will be working.  This is done to identify any problem areas that could harm a young person.