Working – The Law
By Beth, Deputy MYP
What work can I do?
If you are under 16, or are 16 and not finished Year 11 you require a Child Employment Licence to enable you to work. Check out Wokingham Council’s information page for an application form. If you have any queries, please contact Zadie Broad, the Child Employment Officer on 0118 974 6206 or zadie.broad@wokingham.gov.uk
At 13 years old you may only do the following:
- Deliver newspapers
- Shop work
- Office work
- Work in a hairdressing salon
- Wash cars by hand
- Work in a café or restaurant clearing tables etc. but not in a kitchen
- Light work in a riding stables
- Domestic work in hotels
- Light agricultural and gardening work – no machinery to be used
At 14 years old you may only do light work. This applies until you reach the end of year 11.
Is there anything I am not allowed to do?
Whilst you are of compulsory school age – until the end of Year 11 – you may not do any of the following:
- Sell or deliver alcohol
- Deliver milk
- Deliver fuel
- Work in a kitchen
- Use chemicals
- Collect and sort refuse
- Work in telephone sales
- Work in a butchers or slaughterhouse
- Work more than three metres above ground – on ladders etc.
- Work in a cinema, nightclub etc.
- Work in a fairground or amusement arcade
- Undertake the personal care of residents in a nursing home
- Work in a factory or in an ‘industrial undertaking’
On school days you can work either: 1 hour between 7am and 8.30am plus 1 hour between close of school and 7pm Or 2 hours between the close of school and 7pm
On Saturdays and during school holidaysnyou can work:
a maximum of 25 hours a week but no more than 5 hours between 7am and 7pm if you are aged 13 or 14 years
a maximum of 35 hours a week but no more than 8 hours between 7am and 7pm if you are aged 15 or 16 years
On Sundays you can work: A maximum of 2 hours between 7am and 7pm
Holidays and breaks
Your employer must allow you to have 2 consecutive weeks free from work during the school holidays each year. This does not have to be paid holiday. Plus A 1-hour break after 4 hours continuous work.
Remember, schoolwork comes first! Don’t be late for school, so tired you fall asleep in lessons, or so busy you can’t complete homework properly on time.
If your schoolwork suffers or you do not attend school, you may not be allowed to continue working.
If you are under 16, or are 16 and not finished Year 11 you require a Child Employment Licence to enable you to work. Check out Wokingham Council’s information page for an application form. If you have any queries, please contact Zadie Broad, the Child Employment Officer on 0118 974 6206 or zadie.broad@wokingham.gov.uk
