To think this is wrong?

[namechangequeen88]

On Saturday, I went to collect a chinese. This is the first time i'd actually collected from this place, so my first experience with it.

As I arrive, behind the counter is a little girl working. Probably around 6, but definitely no older than 8. Very little. When I mean working, I mean working. She was taking card payments, handing over deliveries- taking cash. No adult in sight.

At first I thought it was quite sweet that she was helping out etc but then I realised it actually seemed a bit wrong. I was there for around half an hour, early for my pickup and it wasn't ready and didn't see an adult once. There was actually a hatch that the kitchen were pushing deliveries through.

I guess it made me feel uncomfortable because despite being busy to start with, in the end there was just me, the little girl and a very drunk man on his own. I realised once I left- she would be mostly alone with him.

I guess, I'm asking your thoughts. I feel uncomfortable but I think I might be being unreasonable. I just hate the thought of the little girl in there without adult supervision.

That's wrong it's a safeguarding concern , ring the NSPPC for advice

What was the drunk man doing that made you think he was a threat to her? I've been in a lot of takeaways and seen my share of inebriated customers (and have been the inebriated customer a few times) but most of them aren't a threat just because they're drunk.

Presumably there were adults present if there was food being cooked. They just weren't on the counter with the little girl. I expect she could have called for help if need be. I don't think I'd be that concerned about it as a one-off.

There's a cafe in my old home town where we are regularly served on Saturdays by a boy of around nine. His mum's the owner. He isn't really supervised either.

@SlowHandClap 100% this!!!!! Aren't there child labour laws????, what if the shop was robbed while she's behind the counter, what if someone starts arguing with her?? There's so many reasons why kids shouldn't be working, it's wrong on so many levels!!!! Please report it!!!!!

🙄 of course a 6 year old being left with a drunk stranger is concerning.

YANBU OP!

There are child employment restrictions, even if unpaid and family. It has worrying h and s and safeguarding implications as well as being potentially exploitative. Report to the relevant child employment and entertainment welfare officer at the council,

YANBU I'd report to your local council

As they'd need a permit to have a child working for them anyway, and at that age they wouldn't get one!

I used to regularly do counter work as a kid in a family business, though the adults were usually in the same room or perhaps nipping to the toilet. If she's there always alone, very late, or every night then I'd think it needs addressing. Nothing wrong with a kid doing a bit of family shop work though. Same as seeing kids do farm work; in principle it's fine to help, but if you see them every day, or with with heavy machinery unaccompanied, then it's a worry.

In the whole half hour I was there- I didn’t see an adult staff member. They actually opened the hatch a couple of times to hand over food.

In essence, I understand that it seems harmless but at the same time, it only takes a minute for something awful to happen.

About the drunk man, in what world should a six year old be responsible for dealing with drunk adults? This man could hardly stand and was getting annoyed at the wait and swearing.

its just uncomfortable.

About the drunk man, in what world should a six year old be responsible for dealing with drunk adults? This man could hardly stand and was getting annoyed at the wait and swearing.

Absolutely! I don’t think my 7 year old has ever seen a drunk person, and I’m totally good with that! Also what time was this OP? Poor girl!

It was around 9:30pm 😔

The youngest age a child can work part-time in the UK is 13. So no, it’s not ok. And at 9:30pm :( that’s really not ok. The fact she knew how to work the card machine, suggests this wasn’t a one of either. I’d be calling NSPCC too.

I'm 43. When I was 10/11, I remember the law was you had to be 14 to have a paid job. I remember my mum used to do some work from home packing packing bags with various items, and stuffing envelopes. I managed to do some of that work and get paid alongside her, but we knew it was illegal.

I would think the law is even stricter now.

At age 6/7 it is undoubtedly illegal for a child to be working at 9:30 at night. I'm sure th parents can spin it as 'oh she was just playing behind the counter and we let her help with the change' or something.

It might be all innocent, but report anyway and if it's nothing, it will all be fine.

(On an aside, my son is 10 and has wanted a Saturday job since he was 8. I personally wouldn't see the harm in the rules being reviewed so children could be allowed to work for a max of 3 or 4 hours a week, in regulated environments and with adequate health and safety precautions in place. Some rich private school kids go to school for 4 hours on a Saturday morning, why can't other kids be allowed to also work (but in something more.practical, and getting paid) on a Saturday morning)