First jobs, what can we expect teens to earn?

[NorahNorah]

Good morning, happy half-term,
In our teens' first jobs .. cafe, supermarket, clothes shops .. restos? What would we expect to be a decent rate?
I've heard it's less for teens who are under 16, but does that mean it can be anything, and would we expect them to be paid minimum wage after 16?
What's reasonable, what's right and proper?

My 16 year old DS works at a supermarket and gets £10 an hour. He normally does 8-10 hours a week.

Where we are, 16year olds are paid £10.25 an hour.

My 16 year old came home a happy chap yesterday having earned over £80.

I should add that his first job was the same amount per hour (fast food restaurant) and now he's weekend cover in retail.

I thought it was a large amount per hour for 16. But it seems to be the going rate as it's the same for his friends.

ds worked PT for Dominos at 16 and now PT at a hotel as waiting staff at 17 and both times he had an employment contract, had to show identification, give NI number, bank details to be paid into and was put on their payroll systems, got payslips, holiday allowance etc. Followed up by an induction and at least some basic training.

I would be very wary of anything less formal for a young person.

DD started working at Waitrose when she was 16 after her GCSE’s. A lot of places won’t employ them until they have finished their GCSE’s. It was a formal process; she had to fill out a really lengthy online application and was invited to an interview. She got the job and was given a contract of 12 hours a week over 2 shifts. She gets £10.50 an hour. She had to complete a 90 day probationary period before being officially made a “partner”. Gets sick pay and holiday entitlement. Her pay is paid in to her bank account electronically at the end of the month. Just like a standard employment contract.

@NorahNorah, specific contract but yes bank details and NI number given and she gets weekly payslips showing what has gone in her bank plus her share of cash tips in the envelope

Forgot to say, she's 17 now but worked there for 18 months

Teen DS (< 16yo) is earning about £55/week for 5.5-7 hours total of paper rounds.

Minimum wage (including the under 18 rate) only applies once they are school leaving age https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage/who-gets-the-minimum-wage

Under 16 and you're probably talking about babysitting , ie an informal arrangement.
Or a paper round if they still exist?

Mine both got jobs at 18 - one at a supermarket which was surprisingly good money over £11 per hour plus a discount card. The other dc was waitressing - less money (nearer min wage) but there were tips.

£12 an hour for seasonal cleaning where I live, almost all holidays - evens out throughout the year allowing time to study too. Also get to eat everything left in the fridge 😂