Homepage > Employers > Employment Legislation > Legislation for 16 and 17 Year Olds

As an employer it is your responsibility to ensure a young person does:

• not work over 8 hour days
• not exceed 40 hours per week
• have a break of at least 30 minutes every four and a half hours worked
• have a rest period of at least 12 hours between every working day
• have two non-working days a week

As an employer of a young person you are expected to:

• review your risk assessments, paying attention to the risks and implications of employing young people

Young people of this age maybe entitled to paid Time Off for Study or Training (TfST).  Visit Directgov for further information.

Useful websites

Department of Health
You can download a summary of the legislation which governs the employment of children.

Last updated: 26/01/11