Full-time work
Tuesday 9 January 2007
If you're thinking of getting a job once you've finished your education, do you know what to expect?
If you're 16 or 17
If you've left school but still haven't reached the age of 18, there are a few restrictions on when you can work. For example, you'll only be able to work for eight hours per day and for a total of 40 hours over a week.
Having a job isn't just about doing nine to five; lots of people do shift work, which means that you may work outside normal office hours, starting earlier or finishing later.
Holidays
As a paid employee, you're entitled to at least four weeks' paid holiday a year. If you work five days a week, that means 20 days' holiday a year. Not all employers are the same; in some cases you might be entitled to more holiday. A longer holiday entitlement is usually linked to the amount of time you've spent in a job or with a company.
If you want to take a holiday, you should try and give your boss or manager as much notice as possible. Your boss doesn't have to agree to the holiday request, but they do have to give you notice that you can't take it.
As long as you give plenty of notice and don't expect to take holiday when there are lots of other people off, your boss should be fine with it. It might be worth planning ahead and getting in early with your holiday requests so you're not left disappointed.
Contract
Most employers will issue you with a contract when you start your job. It can be a long document, but it's worth a read, because lots of info you need to know about your rights at work will be contained within it.
You'll find things like holiday entitlement, what to do if you're not well, any rules you need to be aware of and disciplinary procedures, amongst others
Pay
All workers on the UK over 16 get the minimum wage. How much you get depends on your age. Directgov can tell you how much you should expect.
How often you're paid depends on your job but for many people it's monthly. If you do get paid monthly, you'll need to learn how to budget so that you have enough money left over at the end of the month.
Overtime
If you're under 18, you're not permitted to do overtime, but if you are 18 or over, you can do overtime and earn extra money. Overtime is sometimes paid at a different rate to normal pay, so before you agree to work over, check how much you'll be getting.
Some companies discourage overtime and therefore don't pay for it, while some firms offer days off instead of extra pay for overtime; this is sometimes know as time off 'in lieu'. Before agreeing to overtime, make sure you're clear with your employer's overtime policy.
Colleagues
You'll be working with people of all ages and backgrounds, so it's a lot different to going to school. As a new starter, make sure you listen carefully to what people are telling you and try and treat everybody with respect. You'll be treated as an equal, so don't worry about asking for help if you need it.
Being off sick
If you're ill, let your boss know as soon possible. Take a look at our guide on what to do if you need to take a sick day.
Coming soon
My first day. n2k readers tell us their stories of their first day in work.
