Have the children been knocking around the house all summer? If you are a business owner, there really is nothing stopping you from getting them to work in your business.
It is a common myth that employment is only possible when someone reaches the age of fifteen and receives their national insurance number. In reality, children from the age of 13 can be employed by a business.
HMRC does keep a strict eye on this kind of employment though, specifying that children this age can only perform what is classed as 'light work': ideally something which doesn't harm their health or impede their education. It would also be reasonable to assume that for the arrangement to be commercial, they would be paid no more than the minimum national wage.
The guidance for different age groups is as follows:
Children under school-leaving age cannot be employed
- Before 7am or after 7pm
- For more than two hours on school days or Saturdays
- Before the end of school hours on a school day
14-year-olds and under cannot be employed
- For more than five hours on any day, between Monday to Saturday, on which they don't have to go to school
- For more than 25 hours in any week in which they are not in school
15-year-olds and over, but of compulsory school age, cannot be employed
- For more than eight hours on any day, between Monday to Saturday, on which they don't have to go to school
- For more than 35 hours in any week in which they don't have to attend school
If you want to get your kids involved in your business or have any other questions, please contact us.