If you're no longer at school and you're 16 or 17, the law refers to you as a 'young worker'. Because you will no longer be at school, there are fewer restrictions on when you can work and for how long, but there are still some rules.
Because you've reached school leaving age, you may find that employers may be more willing to offer you part-time or full-time employment. You're also not limited to just 'light work', so you'll be allowed to work in places like a busy shop, restaurant kitchen or as a waiter or waitress.
If you are a young worker but you are employed on ships or as part of the armed forces, working time limits don't apply to you. A young worker cannot usually be made to work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week. These hours cannot be averaged over a longer period and you're not allowed to ignore these restrictions.
You'll only be able to work longer hours if you either need to keep the continuity of service or production or respond to a surge in demand for a service or product. You can only work longer hours if there is no adult available to do the work. Your training needs are not negatively affected.
If you need to work longer than 40 hours a week, or you think your employer is unfairly asking you to work over this limit, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or the Pay and Work Rights helpline.
You will normally have a variety of different breaks from work. These could be rest breaks as young workers who need to work for more than four and a half hours will get a rest break of 30 minutes. You should have daily breaks and young workers get 12 uninterrupted hours' rest in each 24-hour period in which you work. Young workers are also entitled to weekly rest and should have two days off per week.
Because you've reached school leaving age, you may find that employers may be more willing to offer you part-time or full-time employment. You're also not limited to just 'light work', so you'll be allowed to work in places like a busy shop, restaurant kitchen or as a waiter or waitress.
If you are a young worker but you are employed on ships or as part of the armed forces, working time limits don't apply to you. A young worker cannot usually be made to work more than eight hours per day or 40 hours per week. These hours cannot be averaged over a longer period and you're not allowed to ignore these restrictions.
You'll only be able to work longer hours if you either need to keep the continuity of service or production or respond to a surge in demand for a service or product. You can only work longer hours if there is no adult available to do the work. Your training needs are not negatively affected.
If you need to work longer than 40 hours a week, or you think your employer is unfairly asking you to work over this limit, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or the Pay and Work Rights helpline.
You will normally have a variety of different breaks from work. These could be rest breaks as young workers who need to work for more than four and a half hours will get a rest break of 30 minutes. You should have daily breaks and young workers get 12 uninterrupted hours' rest in each 24-hour period in which you work. Young workers are also entitled to weekly rest and should have two days off per week.
