Shall i give this lad a chance

[uksparks]

Hi,

Just had my first CV through the door from a 16 year old who has previously done work experience with another local firm.

I have a CU change on Friday, what do you say, shall I ring him and see if he wants to tag along?

Got an extension next week too.

Any thoughts? Can it hurt to do so? Do I pay him and if so, what in? Biscuits and tea?

 

[Guest77]

My mentors attitude was basically that he had already had all the practice he needed at doing the electrical work and I didn't, so he would happily do the majority of the chasing and sweeping up etc.
And now I have the same attitude towards trainees.

I have had young lads come out with me for a bit of experience and to see what it is all about. I haven't always been in a position to pay them due to putting every last penny in to another business venture, but I picked them up, bought them lunch, took them home and only had them doing interesting things and none of the labourers work.

Well transporting them around, feeding them and actually training them to carry out electrical work and not treating them like a navvy is a good step for sure, chucking them 20 quid would be even better but under the circumstances you did well by them.

 

[davesparks]

I felt really guilty at the time about it.
But with the little cash jobs on the way home they got half the money.

 

[Harni]

Id give him a go for a day or two just to see what the lad is like. Unfortunately a lot of young guys now are idiots with no motivation to work and expect everything handed to them and i think this puts a lot of people off taking on people straight out of school or young people but theres also a lot of good ones out there. Give him a chance. I had the problem of not getting a chance for ages when i left school because of the stereotype and i think this is partly due to the high rate of unemployment.

 

[uksparks]

Thanks for all the help here, yes if he's doing something then yes I'd pay him, the biscuits was a joke, us with me there, there wouldn't be any left to hand out.

so, he is 16, I feel he deserves a chance, like you say he might be good. I have no idea how much to pay him if he's helping on a job. For example, next week I'm charging the woman £200 per day labour, so have enough spare to pay him with in cash. What's the normal rate per hour then for him?

 

[uksparks]

It's like everything in life, until someone gives you a chance you never get anywhere .

 

[Guest77]

If you are picking him up and taking him home, buying him lunch and actually teaching him proper work and not treating him as a slave then 20 quid cash a day is acceptable for a youngster aged 16 IMO

 

[uksparks]

On a serious and boring note, does one have to alter one's insurance to cover employees as well, if as a sole trader with relevant sole trader insurance, one was to entertain such a lad for a work trial ?

I ask hypothetically for myself and on behalf of Uksparks. I have had heaps of CVs through in the last year from keen young lads. Like the OP I don't have the need for a permanent lackey, but some jobs could do with another body sometimes, and if I can give some experience I would be more than happy to do so.

You make a valid point, am I opening a can of worms here? What happens if he gets hurt whilst he's helping me etc?

 

[Harni]

Well this was 8 years ago now but when i was doing a bit of work experience (albeit with the fire alarms), i was being given £40 a day but it was an unofficial thing just helping out, learning a bit and deciding if its a career i want to follow

 

[Plonker 3]

I would say about £15-£20 per day, forget the hourly rate at the minute. The offer of a good reference too should keep them going as well.

 

[uksparks]

£20 per day sounds fair, maybe a bit more, soon adds up, it's £100 per week, better than a kick on the bum

 

[Guest77]

£20 per day sounds fair, maybe a bit more, soon adds up, it's £100 per week, better than a kick on the bum

as Diilb said, 75-100 a week is fine, I would make him work for it though, he would have to graft, but he would be learning at the same time.

 

[uksparks]

I don't want to go over board here but hypothetically he seems ok and I say come and me on this extension next week, do I need to provide ppe etc? Not jumping the gun here but want to know where my liabilities lay...

 

[Plonker 3]

We have all been in then person asking shoes, being not the opposite side will always be difficult. £100 per week at 16 is a good wage, may need to speak to your accountant about the full implications of this.

 

[Guest77]

I don't want to go over board here but hypothetically he seems ok and I say come and me on this extension next week, do I need to provide ppe etc? Not jumping the gun here but want to know where my liabilities lay...

use common sence, if it is needed and he is in danger of getting hurt without it then obviously he will need it, if no danger then no problem.

 

[Guest77]

We have all been in then person asking shoes, being not the opposite side will always be difficult. £100 per week at 16 is a good wage, may need to speak to your accountant about the full implications of this.

yes it is a good wage, but it is 2014 where the average shopping bill is 150 quid a week now and that works out at 2.50 per hour which is what an apprentice is usually on the first year.