If you're under 18 and thinking of getting a job or are already working, there are certain restrictions on what work you can do, where you can do it and for how long each week.
What age you can get a job
Generally, if you’re under 13, you canonly get a job in special circ*mstances. Once you reach the age of 13, you can do light work. This means that you can't do any job that may affect your health and safety or interfere with your education. You can, for example, doa paper round.
When you're 14, you can be employed in a wide range of jobs, but there are still some that you're not allowed to do. For example, you can't work in a factoryor on a building site. If you're unsure about whether you can work in certain jobs, check with the local education authority.
These restrictions last until you become 16 and are over compulsory school age, when you then become classed as a young worker meaning that you have more choice in the jobs you can do. If you're 18 or over, you get the same work rights as adults.
- Starting work: what to expect
- Getting a holiday job
Working hours
There are rules aboutwhat times of the day you can work and for how long. These are different depending on your age.
14 year olds
There are a lot of rules that control working hours of children but the basic ones are:
- during term time you can only work for two hours on weekdays and Sundays and for five hours on Saturdays
- during a school holiday you can work for up to five hours on a week day or a Saturday and no more than two hours on a Sunday
- you cannot work before 7.00 am or after 7.00 pm
15 and 16 year olds
If you're 15 or 16 and are working while you're still at school, your rights are almost identical to those of 14 year olds. However, you are allowed to work for up to seven hours on Saturdays or during the school holidays.
16 and 17 year olds
If you are over compulsory school age, and you're 16 or 17, the law refers to you as a young worker. There are fewer restrictions on when you can work and for how long, but there are still some rules.
You'll only be able to work for eight hours every day, or a total of 40 hours over the course of a week. You can't usually work an overnight shift, but there are some exceptional circ*mstances where you can.
Because you've reached school leaving age, you may find that employers may be more willing to offer you part-time or full-time employment. You're also not limited to 'light work', so you'll be allowed to work in places like a busy shop, restaurant kitchen or as a waiter or waitress.
- Getting a holiday job
- Working hours
- Working hours and young workers
The National Minimum Wage
You become eligible for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) when you're older than school leaving age. The rate of NMW will then depend on your exact age.
There isn't a National Minimum Wage for people under 16 who are younger than the school leaving age.
- The National Minimum Wage
- Apprenticeships
Time off and holidays
If you are over compulsory school age, you have the right to at least 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave, calculated on a pro-rata basis. This works out to be 28 days in a year if you work five days per week. Some employers may offer more as part of your employment contract.
If your company offers little or no training, you may also get time off to work and study if you decide to take any further education courses.
If you get made redundant
If you're 16 or 17 and have recently lost your job, your best option is to do some further learning or training. Gaining additional skills and qualifications can help you find a new job quicker, earn more money and increase your career prospects in the future.
Contact your local Careers Officefor help. Careers advisers can help you find a suitable opportunity that meets your needs, such as an apprenticeship or a job with training.
Depending on your circ*mstances, you may be able to claim benefits if you choose to look for another job.
- Redundancy
- Jobs and Benefits Offices
Health and safety at work
All employers have a responsibility to make sure that their employees’ health and safety are protected at work. This means that you should expect thorough training that shows you any hazards that you may come across during your job and the right ways to do your job safely.
You also have health and safety responsibilities as an employee.
These include:
- making sure you use the proper methods to carry out tasks like lifting heavy boxes or using sharp knives
- not putting anyone else at risk of injury
- making sure you are not wearing any clothing or jewellery that is unsuitable for the work you aredoing
- reporting any accidents or injuries to your manager
- Employees' health and safety responsibilities
FAQs
Florida law restricts child labor for minors 14 to 17 years of age and prohibits employment of children under 14, with some limited exceptions. Both the FLSA and Florida law restrict when and how many hours minors under 16 years old may work.
What are unfair working conditions? ›
Examples of unfair labor practices in the workplace include denying benefits or promotions to specific employees, discriminating against older workers, unequal pay, and many others.
What is considered mistreatment of employees? ›
Abusive conduct may include repeated infliction of verbal abuse, such as the use of derogatory remarks, insults, and epithets, verbal or physical conduct that a reasonable person would find threatening, intimidating, or humiliating, or the gratuitous sabotage or undermining of a person's work performance.
What act protects young workers? ›
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), employers have the responsibility to provide a safe and healthful work environment and comply with occupational safety and health standards. First-line supervisors have the greatest opportunity to protect young workers and influence their work habits.
What are unacceptable working conditions? ›
Acceptable working conditions include a safe, clean, and healthy working environment; fair wages; reasonable hours; job security; and a balance between work and leisure. Unacceptable working conditions include inadequate wages, long working hours, health and safety hazards, discrimination, and lack of job security.
What are the 5 unfair labor practices of employers? ›
There are five categories of unfair labor practices for employers that are prohibited under the NLRA:
- Interference, restraint, or coercion. ...
- Employer domination or support of a labor organization. ...
- Discrimination on the basis of labor activity. ...
- Discrimination in retaliation for going to the NLRB. ...
- Refusal to bargain.
A hostile work environment, defined by Legal Dictionary, is established by "unwelcome or offensive behavior in the workplace, which causes one or more employees to feel uncomfortable, scared, or intimidated in their place of employment." The unwelcome contact can come from another employee, a contractor, a client, a ...
What is unreasonable behavior in the workplace? ›
Employees at all levels, including leaders and managers, need to know behaviours such as these are not accepted: shouting, swearing, intimidating, threatening and throwing things. deliberately not sharing information that is necessary or would significantly assist someone in the performance of their job.
Can I report my boss for mistreating me? ›
According to the federal anti-discrimination laws, your employer is not liable for abusive workplace practices unless you first report them. If your employer is abusive, you may be able to file a complaint directly with the commission, because abuse does not fall under the vicarious liability exception.
What work is not appropriate for young workers? ›
Federal law prohibits tasks and jobs deemed too dangerous for children. Though some exemptions apply, the following is a list of jobs workers under the age of 18 are generally not allowed to perform: Storing or manufacturing explosives. Driving or working as an outside helper on a motor vehicle.
The FEHA defines age discrimination as employment practices that discriminate against a person 40 years or older because of their age. However, because the FEHA does not protect employees under the age of 40, a younger employee in California facing workplace discrimination may not have any legal recourse.
What states protect younger workers? ›
What States Protect Younger Employees?
- Alaska: No age limit; applies to companies with at least 1 employee.
- Connecticut: No age limit; applies to companies with at least 3 employees.
- D.C.: Protects employees aged 18 to 65; applies to companies with at least 1 employee.
It's hard for employees to be productive when the working conditions are unpleasant or if they feel unsafe. Issues like uncomfortable temperatures, broken chairs, wobbly desks, noisy surroundings, and more can become big distractions and have an adverse impact on productivity.
What is unethical working conditions? ›
Unethical behavior in the workforce is not restricted to overt acts. It includes workers acting out and aggressively confronting supervisors, supervisees, and colleagues, and it includes more subtle behaviors that compromise people, productivity, and organizations.
What is intolerable working conditions? ›
Intolerable Working Conditions
These conditions can vary but must include harassment based on one's race, sex, religion, national origin, and/or disability; discrimination based on those same protected classes, unsafe working conditions, or other forms of mistreatment.
What is an example of an unsafe working condition? ›
Examples of Unsafe Working Conditions in the Workplace:
Flooring that has debris, water, or slippery substances that create a hazard. Blocked safety exits. Equipment that is not maintained or not working properly. Failure to have safety guards.
What is an example of unfair pay at work? ›
For example, pay discrimination may be occurring if male employees are offered higher starting salaries than female employees in the same job who have similar skills and qualifications, or if Hispanic employees are paid less than White employees even though their performance evaluations are similar, or if employees ...
What are the examples of unfair discrimination in the workplace? ›
Unfair discrimination can take many forms. For example, where an employee is unnecessarily sidelined because he/she is disabled this could be unfair discrimination. If an employee is sexually harassed this is a form of unfair discrimination based on sex.
