To think if you are that short of staff you should employ 15year olds?

[SunsetandCupcakes]

I'm not that old, still old but in the v late 90s I had a job in the kitchens, my brother had a job selling ice creams at 14.
Catering near me is struggling to fill vacancies, it's the summer in a holiday town, two kiosks have had to close as no staff and yet my 15 year old isn't allowed to work.
How can working be more detrimental than sat at home on the PS4, we've ended up with a funny view on teenagers

Who isn't allowing him to work?

@NiceTwin

Who isn't allowing him to work?

The places that are desperate for staff.

At that age, especially in hospitality, they’re more of a hinderance than a help.

And before people say otherwise, it's a blanket ban, they will not meet anyone u16

There are lots of extra laws for employing children so maybe it doesn’t work for the business? They can’t work alone for example, need more breaks, do they have the staff to cover these? Are there local laws requiring them to need a permit to employ children? There could be lots of reasons a business can’t employ a child. I do see your frustration, but it may just not be that simple for the businesses. Has he got a proper CV to hand out?

I had a job at 14 too - held various jobs on weekends from 14 to 18 - and I think it was hugely important for me developing a sensible attitude towards money, dealing with different personalities, and giving me some structure over holidays!

Well, they're clearly not desperate enough to employ an untrained 15 year old.

I worked from being 14, but the rules are much tighter now and I can imagine an employer feeling it was a lot of hassle for them. Its a shame as I got a lot from working at that age, got to know adults in a setting outside of school and family, dealing with the public and of course money to spend however I chose!

The process of obtaining a licence and the restricted hours a 15 year is allowed to work & the list of things they are not allowed to do make it not worth it for employers.

Tesco where I am won’t even employ under 16 I think there are extra laws for employing children so why would they want to go through the extra effort when adults are much easier.

@pinkcircustop

At that age, especially in hospitality, they’re more of a hinderance than a help.

I don't agree with this, some are but lots aren't. In the 90s loads of 14+ were in hospitality, I was at 14, I don't believe that an entire generation has regressed so much they can't wash pots

They are allowed to work they don't have to pay ni so don't need an ni number - they don't need to be included in the payroll maybe speak to them again and show them this link

www.gov.uk/child-employment/paying

Well employing children is a nightmare.
Plus lots of places won't have insurance for them etc

Things have tightened up a lot in recent years with employing younger people, it's just not worth it for many places

I know a15 year old that works in a chip shop they pay here £2.50 an hour as there isn’t a pay bracket under 16;

How can working be more detrimental than sat at home on the PS4

Quite a few ways, tbh. There are strict laws on child labour for good reason: kids are easy to take advantage of.

I get what everyone is saying about 'The Rules' but how can this help anyone?

The law is the problem here. Employers have to comply with a whole load of safeguarding laws to employ under 16s nowadays. It’s not surprising that most of them have decided it isn’t worth the hassle.

It's a total pain hiring children because of the extra rules.

It’s ‘the laws’ not the rules, would you really want him working for an employer that wasn’t interested in following employment laws anyway?

@roarrlikeadinosaur

How can working be more detrimental than sat at home on the PS4

Quite a few ways, tbh. There are strict laws on child labour for good reason: kids are easy to take advantage of.

See I'm not in agreement. Better to have manageable limits for a 15year old.

But equally when does this end. Are we the generation of the never ending childhood? My parents couldn't afford to give me pocket money, working opened a world that would otherwise have been impossible.

www.gov.uk/child-employment/restrictions-on-child-employment

Many areas have bylaws prohibiting children from working in a commercial kitchen.

@JaffaRaf

It’s ‘the laws’ not the rules, would you really want him working for an employer that wasn’t interested in following employment laws anyway?

No, but I'm not sure I'm happy with a law that hinders independence I'm sure those that drafted 'the roolz' probably didn't need the money nor the freedom that it gives.

@SilverOak

The law is the problem here. Employers have to comply with a whole load of safeguarding laws to employ under 16s nowadays. It’s not surprising that most of them have decided it isn’t worth the hassle.

This ^^

When I was a teenager (1980s), nearly all of us had Saturday jobs and a few hours after school.

In fact I had literally just turned 13 when I used to work at my local general/grocery store.

But as you say, the laws make it difficult now (which for some kids is not a bad thing).

@HaveANiceFuckingDay

I know a15 year old that works in a chip shop they pay here £2.50 an hour as there isn’t a pay bracket under 16;

See would be better to regulate 15 year old than ban it