Summer jobs for children

[Badbudgeter]

Just curious if your younger high schooler works in the summer holidays how many hours and how much do they get paid?

DS12 is quite keen on taking up what would pretty much be a full time job for the summer. The work would probably suit him as it’s largely outdoors and then in the kitchens. Foraging and then prep/ preserving. He wants to be a chef/ own a restaurant. He’d get £5.28 ph, same as min wage for 16yo. 40 hours a week.

It seems like a lot of hours though. I’m tempted to say just for four weeks so he can have a holiday too. At the same age I only had a paper round!

In the UK it's not legal to employ children under 13.

Here are the rules for 13-14 year olds:

School holiday rules

During school holidays 13 to 14-year-olds are only allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours a week.

This includes:

• a maximum of 5 hours on weekdays and Saturdays
• a maximum of 2 hours on Sunday

Not a chance would I let my 12 year old do that! She'll do as her brothers have done and get a job at 16.

Sorry he’s about to be 13. Will tell him a max of 25 hours.

Both myself and DS worked from 13 but not FT. I did all day Saturday at a holiday camp. I had worked in my parents restaurant already, Chinese restaurant not with customers but setting up tables and behind the scenes from a very tender age. DS did a paper round inc putting leaflets in so was about 6 hours a week.

I am assuming he has just seen the job and not been offered it.

I am all for kids working from 13 if it doesn’t affect studies, the way DS and I are personality wise, very speedy meant it was fine. DH didn’t work as a child, he is a Professor so ridiculously clever but not a speedy person and no way could he have managed it.

Both DS and I did well academically.

These days its extremely hard to get any kind of paid part time work even at 16 and a lot of jobs want over 18’s.

40 hours per week is too much, I would say for a 12 year old. Is the employer actually aware of his age?

He’s been for an interview, well more of an informal chat (‘tis the rural way) and been offered the job. I suspect his age wasn’t mentioned. Not an advertised job more of a come along for a chat and we will see what we can find for you to do.