When you become an apprentice for any workplace, despite not being a full-time employee you are still entitled to the same legal rights, and there are many regulations that need to be abided by. You therefore have the same legal rights as every other employee, whether they are full-time, part-time or an apprentice.
Before you start your apprenticeship, a contract should be drawn up between you and your employer, setting out clearly the hours you\’re due to work, together with your salary and holiday entitlement. In these days of politically-correct (or even politically-sensitive) employer/employee relations, fair treatment means that you shouldn\’t be subjected to any kind of discrimination, whether racial, age-related, gender related… or because of your religious views.
There\’s a legal limit to the number of hours you can work as an apprentice: the average working week for someone over the age of 18 is limited to 48 hours. If you are under 18, then legally speaking you shouldn\’t have to work for more than 40 hours a week. You have an entitlement to a 20-minute break every six hours – that\’s the bare minimum – and you should have at least 11 hours off between shifts. If your employer ignores any of these limits, then you\’re legally entitled to refuse to work.
When it comes to paid holidays, apprentices are entitled to 1 1/2 days paid holiday for each month during their apprenticeship. That should also include bank holidays in most workplaces. These entitlements should be written down in detail in your contract of employment, so it\’s always worth keeping a copy close to hand at home to refer to, to make sure that your employer is sticking to those terms and conditions.
As an apprentice, you\’ll get paid monthly, fortnightly or weekly, just like your fellow workers. Depending on how much you earn, tax and national insurance will be taken from your paycheque, so it\’s worth talking to your employer\’s human resources department to find out just how much tax and national insurance will be deducted. If this is not possible, the Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to give you the facts you need. Until the age of 19, apprentices are legally entitled to a national minimum apprenticeship wage of 2.60 an hour. Afterwards, apprentices who have completed one year of work are legally entitled to the national minimum wage – this should be set out in your contract and should not be changed.
Have you considered becoming a legal apprentice?, or are you looking for various apprenticeship positions, jobs & offers? Visit notgoingtouni.co.uk to find advice on how to get into law and offers of apprenticeship positions.
Starting An Apprenticeship Legally
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