15 Year Old, Year 11 School Leavers.

elsie1969

Please read and discuss..... I would love to hear various points of view, or information from someone who might really know.

My son is 15 and will be leaving school very soon. His birthday falls right at the end of the school year, right at the end of August. He will start college just days after his 16th Birthday, but is hoping to find a summer job during the 3 months before then when his exams have finished.
I have been looking round for possible employees locally and keep coming across the must be at least 16 barrier. I have now consulted the CAB website and found the following 2 quotes.....

General rules on employment
Young people over school leaving age and under 18 are known as young workers. Young people can leave school on the last Friday of June of the school year in which they are 16.
There are special laws to protect the employment rights of young workers. These concern your health and safety, what jobs you can do, when you can work, and how many hours you can work. These laws are very strict and an employer can be prosecuted for breaking them.
If you are over school-leaving age and an employee, you will have other rights in addition to the rights of young workers which are mentioned below. For example, it is against the law to discriminate against you at work because of your age.
For more information about age discrimination at work, see Age discrimination at work.
For more information about other rights you have at work as an employee, see Basic rights at work.

What is age discrimination
It's against the law for your employer to treat you worse than other colleagues at work because of your age, unless they've got a very good reason. It's also against the law for an employer to dismiss you or to refuse to employ you, just because of your age, unless they've got a very good reason. If your employer does this, it's called age discrimination. An employer is not allowed to discriminate against you either for being too young or for being too old.

OK, so, I am aware of the regulations regarding jobs where you must be 18 for legal and safety reasons, but if he applies to somewhere and they throw the 'Must be 16' quote at him, does he have the right from the information above to throw the 'Age Discrimination' quote back?

scooby088

As your son will be still technically 15 then there is no discrimination taking place as he hasn't reach the age of 16 the minimum anyone can work full time hours. I would hazard a guess that any employer has to have insurance and this may be one of the reasons for not employing anyone under 16, plus what has your son got to offer in terms of experience what can he bring to a job. He would be there for a maximum of 3 months or would he keep the job and college going at the same time?

There are people out there with a lot more experience than your son and that is added competition, but he does have the factor of being younger and cheaper than someone with the experience.

Bringing up any discrimination would more than likely put off any prospective employer unless it can be proven. Just best to get a job by what he has to offer and not if you don't employ me I will take you to court sort of thing.

elsie1969

He is looking for part time work, and hours that hopefully he could continue after starting college as he will probably be there 4 days a week, so it wouldn't be taking on a job, then leaving.

He already does have 'working' experience and a hard work ethic, as he has been doing voluntary work every week for about 18 months, (since he could get a certificate from the local county council at 14)... there doesn't seem to be any problem with this, and yes, he is insured to do it.

Also, for his work experience week he got an absolutely glowing report in his booklet, not just from the boss, but from others who worked along side him.... I would say it goes far and beyond the 'normal' well done report.

He is mature for his age and deserves an opportunity to do something during the summer period and get paid for it. Am I asking too much?

Jobseeeker

it would be illegal to employ a 15 year old.

The only job he could legally have is a paper round

scooby088

Your not asking too much, but when there are millions who are unemployed and equally deserve a job and as hard working it's a dog eat dog world out there. Competition for any job is tough and must be tougher for a 15/16 year old. Have you asked for him at your place of work, that's how I got my first job out of school my dad got me the job.

elsie1969

scooby088 wrote: »

Your not asking too much, but when there are millions who are unemployed and equally deserve a job and as hard working it's a dog eat dog world out there. Competition for any job is tough and must be tougher for a 15/16 year old. Have you asked for him at your place of work, that's how I got my first job out of school my dad got me the job.

I work as a career for my Mum, I don't think there's much he can do there unfortunately! It's just me and him, so no-one else to ask either. 'Jobseeker', I can't see from the quotes on the CAB website how it is illegal for him to work. He is a school leaver in the year in which he turns 16, so how does that make it illegal? I know it's dog eat dog out there and there is competition, all i'm asking for is for him to be able to fight on equal terms, and not be dismissed before he even has an opportunity to apply!

scooby088

How can your son fight on equal terms? Someone with 20 years experience or someone who is a novice to employment. At the time of leaving school your son will still be 15, he may be in his 16th year but he doesn't reach that age until his birthday, those are the rules, maybe you should try looking at gov.co.uk in the employment section rather than the cab.

elsie1969

scooby088 wrote: »

How can your son fight on equal terms? Someone with 20 years experience or someone who is a novice to employment. At the time of leaving school your son will still be 15, he may be in his 16th year but he doesn't reach that age until his birthday, those are the rules, maybe you should try looking at gov.co.uk in the employment section rather than the cab.

I HAVE......
Check out this page..... and he isn't even looking for full time work.

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment

This gives him at least 2 months to LEGALLY work, even full time, which isn't even what he is looking for. He just needs someone to give him the opportunity to apply in the first place. Even if it is competing against someone else with 20 years experience, at least then he has a chance on his own merits...... I'm not asking for opportunities to be taken away from others, am I? The only way an opportunity would be taken away from someone else would be if my son was better than them at the application/interview stage..... Or is this what you're scared of?

msgoggins

A year 11 leaver can legally work after the school leaving date which you correctly identify as the last Friday in June. It doesn't matter that he has a late birthday so will still be 15. What could be a problem is the employers insurance as the policy may state 16+

Well worth him applying to all fast food outlets - our local McD's seem desperate for staff.

WickedWitch123

Hi there. My daughter is in the same position ie she does not turn 16 until the end of July. Lots of her friends are already applying for jobs as they're already 16 so its frustrating for her.

Unfortunately for them both, age discrimination legislation does not apply to children, it only kicks in at 18.

I have arranged for my daughter to do some work experience in our local hospital midwifery department (as this is her chosen career). Hopefully this will stand her in good stead for her future.

I understand its frustrating but it is illegal for companies to employ children.

WW

elsie1969

Ok, so i'll go back to a quote i made before.....

What is age discrimination
It's against the law for your employer to treat you worse than other colleagues at work because of your age, unless they've got a very good reason. It's also against the law for an employer to dismiss you or to refuse to employ you, just because of your age, unless they've got a very good reason. If your employer does this, it's called age discrimination. An employer is not allowed to discriminate against you either for being too young or for being too old.

To me, not having insurance to employ someone who is legally old enough to work..... surely this is discrimination?

Oh how I want to take this further, and I think I will! :cool: