who old do children have to be to work

[goldheart]

My friends daughter is 14 and wants to work for extra cash. However, what sort of job (not including paper-rounds) can she do? Can she do shopwork? We are under the impression that she cannot work with money i.e. on a till / cash register until she is 16.
Also, is there a legal age for a child to be left alone in the home without an adult (i.e. is 11.5 year old boy ok on his own for a few hours after school?)

[ursula62]

There are some restrictions, but most firms won't employ even casual labour until you have a national insurance number and you don't get one of those until your 16th birthday.

Try the CAB website, they have some information that might help you.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family /young_people_education_and_employment-3.htm#Generalrule sonemployment

[ursula62]

Sorry, meant to post this URL as well

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/family_parent/family /young_people_education_and_employment-3.htm#Employmento fchildrenunderschoolleavingag

[dudette2005]

You have to be 14 to be left at home by yourself legally but very few people follow this; it really depends where yo live and how safe your area is.  Also wait until 14 til you can be (legally!) employed but someone you know might employ them casually? at 14 you can waitress and do menial work i think!

[Morrisonker]

waitressing depends whether the cafe or whatever is licensed.  If it is then you'd have to be 18 to work there. 

My friends sister is 15 and has been working at fastfood chain for a year, shes far too young to be operating the fryers and such and only earns about �2.50 an hour, so it's a total con.  If you're looking for work under 16 years old you're best either asking around family friends who have business', help with office work after school or maybe try a hairdressers.  You'd just be making drinks and sweeping up hair, but it's worth a shot.