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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Would you allow your 17 year old to work late shifts?

37 replies

TheBeesKnee · 12/06/2022 23:47

17 year old boy; 18 in 2 months time.

Job would be kitchen staff in a pub which serves food until 11pm. So he would need to stay until 12/1 to help clean up.

I am not a parent, especially not to a teen, so very interested in what the response would be for this.

OP posts:

elizabethdraper · 12/06/2022 23:48

Oh course.

They are practically an adult

Real world time

Needmorelego · 12/06/2022 23:52

There are legal rules about under 18s and working night hours. Even though he is only 2 months away from being 18 a good employer should not be breaking employment laws.
That would be my only concern because if they are happy to break those rules what other legal employment rules are they happy to break?

ETgo · 12/06/2022 23:53

My son did the closing shift at McDonald's for a year or so and was finishing about 2am and cycling home when he was 17/18.
I was ok with him doing this as he was very practical and sensible and my phone was always on next to me in bed.
My youngest though I'd have been very nervous as he's just completely different and don't think he'd notice if he somehow got into a dangerous situation.

milkysmum · 12/06/2022 23:55

I don't think he'd be legally allowed to work that late until he's 18, but apart from that I'd be fine with an 18 year old working till that time yes.

CrapBucket · 12/06/2022 23:55

Its more about the getting home safely than the job or hours for me.

worriedatthistime · 12/06/2022 23:58

Legal rules on how late he can stay , my ds works at maccies and can only stay and start at certain times

TippledPink · 13/06/2022 00:04

My son is 16 and works doing food running in a restaurant. He has to stay until close which is normally 11.45-12 on a Saturday. Last night they made him stay until 12.30 as customers hadn't left so he couldn't mop. I have told him he must tell them he cannot work past midnight, by law. If they need people to stay on they need to rota over 18's or you know, they could tell their customer the restaurant is now closed and hurry them along!

In short, I would be fine for him to work until midnight but no later. I pick my son up so he gets home fine.

SingingSands · 13/06/2022 00:05

I'd personally not be keen unless they had a guaranteed way of getting home. Driving or taxi. I'd probably allow it then, I'd just want to know I wouldn't be getting a call at 1am to go and pick them up.

I used to work nights in Asda at 18/19/20 and walk home the next morning at 6am.

Ellmau · 13/06/2022 00:18

The big question would be how is he going to get home?

Comefromaway · 13/06/2022 00:26

No, I wouldn’t allow it as it illegal for a 17 year old to work after 11pm

at 18 as long as they have a safe method of getting home, yes.

Sunnytwobridges · 13/06/2022 00:28

No, I just feel like too many things happen late at night and I would worry.

Comefromaway · 13/06/2022 00:28

Sorry they are allowed to work until midnight in hospitality but only if there are no over 18s available.

Original poster

TheBeesKnee · 13/06/2022 00:29

Ellmau · 13/06/2022 00:18

The big question would be how is he going to get home?

Bus. This is London. 20 mins.

OP posts:

elkiedee · 13/06/2022 00:47

I'd check that the bus runs after midnight, its frequency at the time he might need it, and that the bus, the relevant bit of the route or timetable aren't on the latest list of proposed TFL cuts.

I use a number of buses to get home from local places I go to and one particular one is frequent until 11.55 then goes to every half hour. Once it comes it only takes 10 minutes to get home, 5 on the bus and 5 to walk to the house, but finding that you've missed the bus and have to wait 25 minutes isn't much fun sometimes. And if he's not able to say that he needs to leave NOW to make the bus (all too likely) then that gets to be an issue. Similarly if the last bus is 5 minutes after his proposed end of shift....

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 13/06/2022 01:52

One of mine started working in a pub as soon as he turned 18

He was out and about with friends until that time at 17 anyway

He's 2 months off 18 so I wouldn't have a problem with it

lljkk · 13/06/2022 07:44

Yes I would. DD or DS, but right now DS is a few days off of 18.

Newlychosencatservant · 13/06/2022 07:46

Yes definitely, he is almost an adult!

20viona · 13/06/2022 07:47

Christ he's basically a adult. If he's legal to drive 70mph on a motorway I'm sure he can wash some pots at 10.30pm.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 13/06/2022 07:49

Yes of course, nearly an adult. Mine were out socialising later than that at 17.

ihatethefuckingmuffin · 13/06/2022 08:02

Wouldn’t have a problem. Often out till that time anyway at 17.
Would ensure that they are paid to stay so not being exploited.
would check the bus route (Citymapper app is amazing) some of the buses that we have locally in London run as normal, others every 20 minutes and some every hour. Would also look at tube options as well.

At 18 any objections from me would have been told to nicely fuck off they are adults, can drive, vote, drink and get married without my permission. Never mind If they’d gone uni I wouldn’t know their working hours.

OnceAgainWithFeeling · 13/06/2022 08:04

I was doing this whilst doing my GCSEs!

(I bought my first car at 17 and a house at 19 from being able to earn and save from my teens so absolutely I would.)

orangeisthenewpuce · 13/06/2022 08:07

Yes. Without a doubt.

doadeer · 13/06/2022 08:09

My brother worked in a bar till 2am at this age.
I wouldn't have an issue with it as long as they can get home safely

gingergiraffe · 13/06/2022 08:15

My DS, 17 at the time once worked until well after midnight at a pizza restaurant. Deep cleaning for just his normal rate of pay. He was happy to do so for the money. He had to lie on the floor, scraping grease and whatever from under the counters in the kitchen. I felt he was being exploited and at least should have been more for such a job. I told him so, that I was not happy about it and it didn’t happen again. Not sure if he was actually asked though.

HeidiWhole · 13/06/2022 08:16

I'm a bit of a helicopter parent but I'd be fine with that, I'd probably pick him up though.

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