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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect more than £4.50/h for a 15 year old?

126 replies

Hedgehogsaremything · 03/12/2023 09:18

My son is working in a local garden centre for the pre-Christmas season - netting Christmas trees, carrying them to cars and doing general tasks in their outside yard. It's physically demanding but he's tall and pretty strong for his age.

He was told at the end of his first shift that he would be getting £4.50/hour.

When I was 15 in 19-bloody-88 I was on £3 / hour... working in a pub. That was 35 years ago!!?!

AIBU to expect him to be earning a little more than that?

OP posts:
FuckinghellthatsUnbelievable · 03/12/2023 09:23

It isn’t great. Min wage doesn’t apply though and at 16 it’s £5.28 an hour so not terribly far off. Is he happy with it? I earned £3.18 in 1995 do I do know what you mean. I only earn £12.70 an hour these days though so wages have stagnated hugely over last few decades.

LostAtTheCrossRoad · 03/12/2023 09:24

Current minimum wage for a 16-18yo is £5.28ph so I'd expect less than that, yes.

Disco50 · 03/12/2023 09:25

I think it's illegal to be employed at that age, unless for a paper round. Which is why they can get away with it.

Quartz2208 · 03/12/2023 09:26

I think you may very well have had a very good wage, my jobs in 1996/1997 when I was over 16 were still £3 and £2.70 an hour.

there is no minimum wage for under 16 but the 16-17 apprentice rate is £5.28 rising to £6.40 next April. In that light the £4.50 isn’t too far off.

Morechocmorechoc · 03/12/2023 09:26

Wow its definitely people taking advantage isn't it. Can he find anywhere paying better I guess it the real question.

Hellocatshome · 03/12/2023 09:27

Disco50 · 03/12/2023 09:25

I think it's illegal to be employed at that age, unless for a paper round. Which is why they can get away with it.

Well that is absolute rubbish for a start. What a weird thing to believe.

Quartz2208 · 03/12/2023 09:27

Disco50 · 03/12/2023 09:25

I think it's illegal to be employed at that age, unless for a paper round. Which is why they can get away with it.

It really isn’t there are rules ranting to hours and school days etc. but you can definitely work

Ace56 · 03/12/2023 09:28

I thought under 16 year-olds aren’t actually allowed to officially work (unless paper round)? Is he just getting cash in hand? In which case they can pay what they like!

Original poster
Hedgehogsaremything · 03/12/2023 09:28

Disco50 · 03/12/2023 09:25

I think it's illegal to be employed at that age, unless for a paper round. Which is why they can get away with it.

It's not illegal. He can't work on Sundays at 15yo but he can work up to 8 hours on Saturdays. At 15 he could work 35 hours a week in the school holidays!

OP posts:
DelilahBucket · 03/12/2023 09:29

Honestly, for his age he's fortunate to even have a job. I would be more concerned about making sure the company insurance covers him (most don't cover under 16's) and that the working hour laws aren't being broken for his age (it's very restrictive).

Musiclover234 · 03/12/2023 09:29

I was on £2:10 an hour in an expensive garden centre in 95. I was 16. No wonder they employed so many teens!

It’s not great but it’s not unusual. Even official minimum wage for young people 16* is rubbish. But could he find somewhere else employing him for more at 15? Some places do pay more but it would be finding them.

megletthesecond · 03/12/2023 09:30

It's not great. But as he's got some experience now it'll set him up for a better job once he's 16.
It doesn't sound like the sort of place that would even give him a reference though which would be annoying. DS volunteered in the library for experience and they gave a reference.

Dotcheck · 03/12/2023 09:30

It’s sometimes hard for young people to get a job so I would suggest he views this as fodder for his cv to help get a new job. Tell him to work hard, have a good attitude and just gain experience

Hellocatshome · 03/12/2023 09:31

Ace56 · 03/12/2023 09:28

I thought under 16 year-olds aren’t actually allowed to officially work (unless paper round)? Is he just getting cash in hand? In which case they can pay what they like!

Why do so many people believe this?! Under 16s can work but there are limits to the hours as in how many and also the hours as in how late they can work.

OP I would say £4.50 is about what most under 16s I know get. Some are lucky and get the minimum wage for a 16 year old but not the many in my experience.

As long as he is happy with it and enjoying the work I would just leave him to it and not express your thoughts to him. Its good he has a good work ethic.

mylittleprince · 03/12/2023 09:31

DD is same age and gets £8 an hour plus tips, I guess it's down to each employer.

WilmaFlintstone1 · 03/12/2023 09:31

No it’s not great but bless him, he’s working and showing willing to earn some money. Are you able to top up his hourly wage by a £1 or 2?

Ilovemycar77 · 03/12/2023 09:31

This is why I encouraged my kids to work at Macdonalds.
Thankfully, we have got one near us and they pay 16yr olds £8.25 an hour.
All my children have worked there for a couple of years before heading off to Uni and has done them the world of good getting into work and earning some good money whilst at it.

Needmorelego · 03/12/2023 09:31

@Disco50 @Ace56 from the government website if you are interested.
Unfortunately though no legal minimum wage for 15 year olds.

To expect more than £4.50/h for a 15 year old?
To expect more than £4.50/h for a 15 year old?
DaftyInTheMiddle · 03/12/2023 09:31

He can work on Sundays but only for 2 hours. The restrictions for under 16s working are there but doesn’t just mean paper round. Although I would question whether carrying heavy trees about was considered appropriate for his age tbh. Anyway, there is no minimum wage so they can pay him what they want essentially. Surely enquiries were made before he did a shift?

Original poster
Hedgehogsaremything · 03/12/2023 09:34

It's a family owned business (so not tied into a larger company's pay structure) and I think they benefit from there not being much work out there for 15yo. He's a late August birthday too so while his 16 yo friends are out getting better paid work, he's a bit stuck.

Also, I've told him that there's a lesson to learn in him not agreeing his wage rate before he started.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 03/12/2023 09:34

The whole "paper round" thing is quite hilarious - do paper rounds even exist anymore? They are mostly long gone.

ExtraOnions · 03/12/2023 09:35

It’s rubbish isn’t it. My DD worked at Boots last year, she was 16. She got the best part of £10 an hour.
Your DS is a bit stuck with being 15, but next year, get him to head to the high street (or retail park)

DdraigGoch · 03/12/2023 09:36

Disco50 · 03/12/2023 09:25

I think it's illegal to be employed at that age, unless for a paper round. Which is why they can get away with it.

No it's not, they can work 12 hours a week, max eight hours on Saturdays and max 2 hours on any other day. Longer during the holidays.

Original poster
Hedgehogsaremything · 03/12/2023 09:36

Ace56 · 03/12/2023 09:33

Oh yes, just looked up the rules on child employment. There is no minimum wage for under 16s so they can pay him what they like. However they should have a special child employment permit: https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/local-council-rules-for-child-employment-permits

This is interesting, thank you.

OP posts:
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