Dd earning £6 an hour cash in hand for a Saturday/holiday job

[wildfellhall]

in a hairdresser just doing very basic things, making drinks, sweeping up, general cleaning and answering the phone.

obviously it’s less than minimum wage but she is learning the basics of work.

Some of my family are a bit disapproving - but I feel as if it’s still good experience particularly as she wants to carry on.

AIBU to let her continue until she finds something better?

Does she get any tips, if my hairdressers has Saturday girls who wash my hair, I always tip them as usually they do a better, longer wash with a head massage. My friends son was working cash in hand at a pizza takeaway, he got a free pizza every shift and share of tips.

It’s not slave labour but paying £6ph is illegal

Tips are extra, on top of NMW, they are not to under pay someone and tips make up the wage to over NMW (unless you’re in America but in England that’s not the right way)

I wouldn't encourage it, it's illegal. They're underpaying her and not declaring her wages. She has no rights. Unless she particularly wants to be in a hairdressers, she could look for a job in a supermarket - she'll get at least £12.40 ph. It's not that easy for a 16 year old, but you can often get in with the temporary Christmas jobs and then be kept on.

They are taking the piss out of your daughter. If they don’t respect employees enough to put them on the pay roll then your daughter could be in a vulnerable position down the line.

It’s her choice but she is also only 16yo.

Probably just delighted to have some money but with no idea of the potential consequences (insurance, NI etc etc etc….). No idea of her rights either (dc1 was the same at that age. Had a job that was paying less than the MW but still went with it becayse he basically didn’t know any better) and certainly wouldn’t feel like standing up to her employer to tell them theyre out of line.
She still needs support and guidance. Lots of it.

And yes she doesn’t have another job lined up. But she is also living with you, you’re still responsible for her upkeep. If she was to stop that job, it wouldn’t be the end of the world. Not like if she was independent and had to pay rent etc….

Agree.

And there are endless posts on here from parents of children over 18 that don't understand why they have never had a job.

🤣🤣🤣
do be serious

@wildfellhall

I'd leave her be. Many teenagers are being paid less to babysit cash in hand or whatever & many in her position volunteering to 'get a foot in the door'. It may lead to other things for her.

what would she need to be insured for?
She's not insured to walk down the street to get to work where there's probably a higher risk of injury.
What sort of terrible injury is she likely to sustain sweeping up hair, ffs? And even if she did she'd still be entitled to NHS treatment.

as a pp said, even if she caused an accident they'd still be covered by their public liability insurance (and tbh they'd probably just document it as someone else having done it). either way it wouldn't be her issue.

I'd tell her to use it as experience but keep looking for somewhere that pays more. If she gets offered a different job but would prefer to stay she can always tell them and see if they raise the wage to match it.

It is very very hard to find casual jobs when you are 16, as I have been through this with my own teens. It is great experience to be answering the phone and dealing with customers. It's sad she is being underpaid but this will help her get her next better paid job. As for insurance, what on earth is likely to happen in this setting? (Assuming she is not mixing up hair dyes etc.) You have to use common sense. We hold our kids back when we are too overprotective.

Not all. DD1 worked for a restaurant chain from age 16 and they always paid her the Living Wage for 21 year olds. DD2 (16) will start there soon.

Good for her to get the experience but I'd advise applying elsewhere.

Do you have teens? It helps you get another job because you can (1) put it on your CV, (2) in a job interview use it to answer those bollocks questions about 'challenges you have faced', and (3) if she is friendly and a good worker, she most likely WILL be able to get an informal reference, in the form of an email or phone call, from either the owner or one of the other staff. Finally (4) these kinds of jobs help our kids 'grow up' in terms of gaining confidence and understanding that sometimes in life you have to cope with difficult customers, do stuff that is boring or tiring with a smile on your face.

A legitimate legal employer wouldn't be particularly impressed by her experience working for someone illegally

You really think she's going to put "May 2025-Jan 2026 - Hairdresser's Assistant (ILLEGAL) on her CV? 😁 How would the 'legitimate legal employer' know the conditions of her employment?

You could as easily say the hairdresser would be happy to give her a reference because they wouldn't want to piss off someone who was leaving anyway and therefore had no loyalty to them if they refused, and could shop them in! The 16 year old isn't exactly going to get in trouble if she plays it dumb and says "It's my first job, I didn't know this wasn't how it was supposed to be done until my next job did it properly," the business has a lot more to lose.

😂 A vulnerable position? How? It’s a part time job to give her a couple of quid to spend while she’s studying. It’s not her career!

I'm sorry but I don't see how being exploited and not standing up for your rights can be great experience. Or how it could help her get another job. A legitimate legal employer wouldn't be particularly impressed by her experience working for someone illegally. She isn't getting particularly useful experience. And i doubt the hairdresser would provide a reference anyway given as legally they haven't employed her The experience she’s gaining is learning that if you want nice things, you have to get out of bed, plaster a smile on your face when you really don’t feel like it, and bloody earn it! And so what if they don’t give her a reference? She’s 16. It’s not like her first full time job after education is going to offer an interview to someone in that age group then have doubts because she doesn’t have 5 years experience in the workplace! She knows she can walk away any time she’s had enough. She’s not doing this for the love of the job, all she wants is the money. If she insists on her ‘rights’, all that’s going to happen is that she loses that extra bit of financial freedom. And how is that going to be a positive thing?

Not all. DD1 worked for a restaurant chain from age 16 and they always paid her the Living Wage for 21 year olds. DD2 (16) will start there soon Ok. Your DC were lucky enough to find a good employer. How many of those do you think there are, in comparison to the number of 16 year olds wanting to earn a few quid on a part time basis?

Well said, agree with this 100%.

Honestly, they should be reported, they are breaking all sorts of laws.
No insurance
in breach of NMW
not paying income tax if due
not paying employee and employers NI contributions
in breach of pensions auto enrolment

goodness knows what else they are in breach of, I’d be concerned about what safety concerns your daughter might be subjected to.

What a lot of rubbish
Insurance is covered under public liability
No income tax on a few hours a week
Or employers or employee NI
Or auto enrollment - plus too young.

The only offence is not paying NMW, and it could be argued it is work experience with expenses.

OP said she’s not insured so I took that at face value, tax likely not due for the 16yo but who else are they not paying tax for, along with the other points. If they cut corners like this what else are they cutting, which would be the bigger concern for me.
As someone who’s been through an HMRC NMW audit, they absolutely won’t let you get away with “work experience with expenses” if it’s a regular shift outside school hours.

I did the same at 12...(years ago). Did me no harm, teaches where money comes from, first job, you learn. Next time she can look for something different and better paid. Good for her. Let her get on with it.

Oh dear, wrap her up in cotton wool and keep her at home....

It's a Saturday or school holiday job. no contract, no rights... come on ladies....

Yes but she will probably put that experience on a CV and perhaps a new employer will ask for a reference. When the hairdressers don’t respond, this could affect her new job!

I had a Saturday job in a record shop in the 90s. Had a wage slip and everything.

So if you had a son and he had a Saturday job working in a car garage, would you say the same?