Saturday jobs and the young-worker minimum wage

Lesson 15 of 16 in our free Work, Payslips & Tax guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

This lesson is in the full version.

Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Work, Payslips & Tax is free for everyone.

Questions you'll answer

You work 6 hours on Saturday and 4 on Sunday, at £8 an hour. What's your weekend pay?

You realise you've been underpaid for two months. What's a calm first step?

£8 an hour for a 17-year-old's Saturday shift → OK. That's the under-18 minimum from April 2026.
£6.50 an hour because 'you're still learning' → Not OK. Under the legal minimum. Training on the job doesn't change that.
A 10-hour Saturday shift for a 16-year-old → Not OK. Young workers usually can't work more than 8 hours a day.
A 30-minute break during a 6-hour shift → OK. Young workers get a 30-minute break if they work more than 4.5 hours.
Being asked to work 45 hours in a week during the holidays → Not OK. Young workers usually can't work more than 40 hours a week.
Myth: “If you agree to a lower rate, it's legal for them to pay it.” — You can't sign away the minimum wage. They still owe you the difference.
Fact: “Young workers usually need 12 hours' rest between working days.” — And 48 hours' rest a week. These rules protect you from burnout.
Fact: “Apprentices can be paid the apprentice rate, which is also £8 an hour from April 2026.” — Apprentices under 19, or in their first year, get the apprentice rate.
Myth: “Cash in hand means the minimum wage doesn't apply.” — It still applies. Cash in hand just means there's less proof, so keep a note of your hours.