I'm sending my baby out to work!

[Remotew]

She's just turned 14. I instigated it by mentioning to a friend who works in a gift shop that DD would like a job in the summer holidays and they have rang to say she can shadow on Sunday morning, expect her at 9 am, for a couple of hours then can have a few days over the holidays.

Her usual Sunday morning is spent watching Hollyoakes and Shipwrecked whilst I make the Sausage (sp never wrote that word before!) sandwiches. Now I'm feeling really sad. I know it will do her no harm and all her friends are working already.

What have I done? .

Is it legal for her to be working at this age?

I am in Scotland and was told that it's illegal to work befre they have their national insurance number. Does she have one?

Yes, it's legal. My 14 year old step son has been selling double-glazing for six months, and he's only fourteen!

Little scally

Good on you, eve. The university of life, as the saying goes ...

Don't get me wrong, I think working is a fantastic thing to do. I had a job from the age of 15 all the way through school and university and it was an invaluable experience. Taught me so much about life/people.

My ds couldn't get any work as he didn't have his NI number. It is def good for them to work!!

Yes, its legal since they turned 13 in England. Some of her mates have been working since the day they were legal!! At least I didn't push her out a year ago.

The manager mentioned that they could only give her a few days. I said that was fine, thank god. I'm feeling wierd about it. However she did badger me to get her fixed up as that is how her mates got their jobs. Its a tourist area so fairly normal. I was working at 11 nearly 12. My mum got me my first job. But that was in the dark ages so no legal requirements. I remember being so shell shocked at the sheer hardness of the work but then got used to it, once I got my first way packed of £1 per day. I kid you not.

It will help her grow up but I will monitor the hours round school work etc.

Yes it is legal as long as the place of work register with the local council that they have a minor working with them. Hours of work vary and each county council sets there own rules within the law as to how many hours a day, a week etc that a minor can work from the age of 13.

Check out your local council website for details and make sure the gift shop informas the council - the parent will get a form in the post from the council to sign. So if no form arrives the shop have not registered the minor working for them and then they are breaking the law and insurance cover.

That should have been 'wage packet'. That's how worked up I am. Thanks for the support.

We received guidelines (it is the norm in our area and was mentioned in the Ofsted report at school) on getting registered and I will make sure that procedure is followed. Its a lovely shop and they are a big business. I worked there, years ago at night when I needed extra money and a relative was manager at the time. They are used to employing minors.

It wont do her any harm. Hopefully. If she hates it she can quit. Character forming springs to mind .

Yep, it's important, but not indicative of adult work patterns.

I didn't take any paid work until I was late 16, (no paper round, etc), and it didn't affect my ability to graft beyond that.

If you live in tourist area, of course, the pull is more potent!

Yep, it's important, but not indicative of adult work patterns.

I didn't take any paid work until I was late 16, (no paper round, etc), and it didn't affect my ability to graft beyond that.

If you live in tourist area, of course, the pull is more potent!

Yes Desi, working young is the culture around here. Most larger stores e.g boots etc don't employ under 16's and sometimes 18's. I recall buying a lovely orange skinny rib top with my first wage. My older sister who was larger than I and wasn't interested in working used to stealborrow all my tops whilst I was at work and stretch them. Fond memories .

The minimum legal age for working is 14. But they are not allowed to work more than 2 hours on a Sunday. There are other restrications.
A lot of places won't employ under 16's.

i have to say that from the age of 13 i worked full time hours after school- tea and supper and several hours in between 7 days a week in a chipshop,,,,,,in 1987 i was earning over £80 a week whilst at school it was bloody hard work and my stepfather would take most of it- anyway- as a result ive mollycoddled my boys and i wouldnt let them work until theyd left school.

How awful Windy. She will be keeping all her money, of course. Well she went for a trial for a couple of hours and did very well. So she will do a few hours a day over the summer hols.