WotsOn4u: Wise up : Part time work and still at school

If you are still of compulsory school age (which you are up until the last Friday of June in the school year in which you reach your 16th birthday) you are entitled to have a part-time job within regulations.

These regulations state the sort of work you can do and the hours you can do it for. They also protect your wellbeing and help to ensure that the part-time job doesn't affect your education.

Here, we tell you about the main facts that you need to know.

YOU CAN'T START WORKING PART-TIME UNTIL YOU TURN 13 YEARS OLD AND YOU CAN ONLY DO JOBS FROM THE FOLLOWING LIST OF LIGHT WORK;

• Agricultural or horticultural work
• Work in riding stables
• Delivering newspapers
• Domestic work in hotels or other establishments offering accomodation
• Work in a shop
• Work in a hairdressers
• In a café or restaurant
• Office work

From the age of 14 you may do work from the above list and other light work, providing it is not on the list of prohibited employment.

PROHIBITED EMPLOYMENT

While you are still at school you can't;

• Work in a cinema, theatre, dance hall, disco or night club
• Sell or deliver alcohol
• Deliver fuel oils
• Work in a commercial kitchen
• Collect or sort refuse
• Do any job which involve you being more than 3 metres off the ground
• Do a job which might bring you into contact with harmful chemicals
• Collect money or sell or canvass door to door
• Be exposed to adult material which is considered unsuitable for children
• Work in telephone sales
• Work in a slaughter house, abattoir or butcher's shop
• Work in a fairground or amusement arcade
• Work in 'personal care' in a residential or nursing home

At all ages you should have a one hour break if you work for more than 4 hours in one day. Your employer should also ensure you have a 2 week break during school holidays each year.

13 and 14 year olds may work the following hours...

SCHOOL DAYS - not more than 2 hours in one day during the following periods:

Morning: 7am to start of school maximum 1 hour
Evening: close of school to 7pm

SATURDAYS; Up to 5 hours between 7am and 7pm

SUNDAYS; Up to 2 hours between 7am and 7pm

TERM TIME; Up to a maximum of 12 hours a week (including weekends)

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS; Up to a maximum of 25 hours a week, 5 hours a day, between 7am - 7pm (including weekends) on any day except Sunday. On Sundays, 2 hours between 7am - 7pm

Why do I need a work permit?
Your employer could be prosecuted for employing you without a work permit even if you are working for a family business.

Also, if you have an accident whilst at work, your employer's insurance would be invalid if you do not have a work permit. We also need to ensure that what you are doing is safe and that it is not affecting your education or attendance at school.

15 and 16 year olds may work the following hours...

SCHOOL DAYS; Not more than 2 hours in one day during the following periods:

Morning: 7am to start of school maximum 1 hour
Evening: close of school to 7pm

SATURDAYS; Up to 8 hours between 7am and 7pm

SUNDAYS; Up to 2 hours between 7am and 7pm

TERM TIME; Up to a maximum of 12 hours a week (including weekends)

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS; Up to a maximum of 35 hours week, 8 hours a day, between 7am - 7pm (including weekends) on any day except Sunday. On Sundays, 2 hours between 7am - 7pm.

What do I need when I start work?
You need to have a work permit.

How long does a permit last?
Your permit lasts for as long as your job does. However, if you change jobs or change your hours of employment, you need to inform the Local Education Authority.

Could my permit be withdrawn?
Yes, if the Local Education Authority believes that;

• You are being unlawfully employed.
• That your health, welfare, school attendance or ability to take advantage of your education are suffering or likely to suffer as a result of your employment.

• You are considered to be employed whether you are being paid or not. However, if you are doing work experience arranged by your school you do not need a work permit.

• Your employer has a responsibility to take care of your health, safety and welfare when you are at work. You can ensure your safety by...

o Checking that you are properly trained and know what you are doing - if you aren't sure don't be afraid to ask.

o If anyone at work makes you feel uncomfortable by what they say or do, please tell your employer or parents.

Employment