Your Rights as an Apprentice
When you start an apprenticeship you employer essentially takes you on as an employee. This means that you have the same employee rights as any one else and that your employer cannot exploit you.
Although you will still be training during your apprenticeship scheme, you will receive a regular wage and still be entitled to holidays, fair working hours and rest breaks.
Working Hours
There are laws in place to protect how many hours you can be made to work at any time. The limit for an average working week is 48 hours, or 40 if you are under 18. You can work more than this in one week but over a 17 week period it must average out to less than this.You are also entitled to at least one 20 minute break for every six hours that you work and at least 11 hours off between shifts. This the law and unless you opt out, you have the right to refuse to work any more than this.
Holiday Entitlement
As an apprentice you will be entitled to at least one and a half days’ paid holiday for every month of your training - you will also get bank holidays. Check your contract of employment to see what you have been given. You also have the right to at least 24 hours free from work in an week or 48 hours free in two weeks. This increases to 48 hours free from work in a week if you under 18.Wages
Even though you are on an apprenticeship scheme you are treated as an employee and therefore will be paid a regular wage. This money will be paid weekly or monthly to you and you have to pay tax and national insurance on your earnings.As an apprentice the minimum that you can earn is £95 a week but many employers will be willing to offer more than that in line with industry standards. Whatever you agree on, make sure that you have it in writing and they don’t try to take any illegal deductions.
Fair Treatment
As an apprentice or as an employee, you have the right to be treated fairly in all aspects of your work. This means that as well as being paid regularly, being given holiday and not being made to work too many hours, you should not face any discrimination or danger.Your rights include adequate health and safety training and prevention. They also include being able to work happily without being discriminated against for your race, religion, age or gender. If you think this is happening then you must report it.
When you are taking part in an apprenticeship scheme you should be given the same employee rights as other members of staff. These include fair working hours and rest breaks, as well as being given your full holiday entitlement.
You should also not face any other unfair treatment such as discrimination or poor health and safety. If you think your employer is breaching any of your rights then you must speak up and report them.
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Comments...
Hi I'm 16 and I wonder if I'm working to many hours. I'm doing an hairdressing apprenticeship and I'm doing college on a Monday 9-1 then I work Tuesday 9-1 the. I work Wednesday 9-8 Thursday 9-8 Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-3. I just wanted to know if I'm working to many hours as I've only just left school and it's nackering me out
Hannah18 - 23 January 2012 @ 4:51 PM
Hi.I started working for my employer over a year ago and my contract says I must be available to attend college. Some 15 months later, the employer has still not established my training course and I feel like I am going nowhere. I get barely the NMW and at 20 + years of age, I feel like I have wasted my time. Should there be a commitment to establish my college training?
MJ - 20 January 2012 @ 1:00 PM
My granddaughter is 17 and has a hairdressing apprenticeship which she started when she was 16.Recently, no doubt due to the current economic turndown she has been sent home when there is not enough clients.Is she entilitled to be paid for these days.
Zuluss - 25 November 2011 @ 11:50 AM
Hi I've been doing a catering apprentiship for 3 months now and am on minimum wage. I work 30 hours a week doing 7.30hrs a day but only get a 15 min lunch as I was working an hour less by having a 30 min lunch and was told I could either have 15 mins for lunch or make the hour up working as I have to work a minimum of 30 hrs per week. I've been reading on the gov website that apprentices should be paid no less than £95 pw but I am only getting £75 is this right? please help as I am really confused
sam - 15 November 2011 @ 11:35 PM
My daughter is 16 she has worked in a hairdressers salon as a saturday girl since feb, when she finished school she worked there for 3/4 days a week she started as an apprentice in sept, she goes to collage one day a week, she has had very little training at the salon and just cleans all day, she should work so many hours a week but if they're not busy they tell her to go early, she only gets paid for the hours she works and some weeks only gets £40 or £50 is this right? She has never had a contract and now the owner has finished her stating that she hasn't got time to train her, is this acceptable?
rosie - 11 November 2011 @ 11:03 AM
My boyfriend has been working as an apprentice for a year now. He's had some issues with his employers but we're unsure of his rights. A few weeks ago for example he worked nearly 80 hours over 5 days, with sometimes as little as 7 hours in between each shift. They were also all night shifts. The job that he was called away for was 4 hours from where we live and he travelled there and back every day. He was told today that he would not be paid for the time he spent travelling there and back, although thats 8 hours a day. Also he went with just another apprentice, unsupervised. He says that he shouldn't be unsupervised, is that right? They also don't ever give wage slips which makes it really difficult to work out if he's been paid correctly when he does overtime. Also he sometimes does overtime but they refuse to pay him and just give him a few hours off instead. Is this allowed? I feel like they just take advantage of the situation and treat them badly. Any information would be great, thanks.
Em - 24 October 2011 @ 11:05 PM
Hi, I started a painting and decorating apprenticeship about 3 months ago and my boss hasn't been paying me the right amount or in the correct way, sometimes I have to travel half an hour to meet him to get my wages. I have just been off for two weeks because I had my tonsils taken out and because I earn £105 a week I am entitled to SSP, however due to the fact a doctor signed me off and it's not a self certificate I am entitled to the first 3 days of my SSP which he won't pay me. He has also told me he has a contract waiting for me to sign but I still haven't seen it. What are my rights here? I have contacted my trainig officer I don't know what else to do - Maria
Maria - 14 October 2011 @ 9:52 AM
I'm 18 and just started a buisness apprentice, I live alone and am claiming housing benefit, I work 40 hrs pw earning 100 pw, am I entitled to any other benefits?
aiden - 5 October 2011 @ 12:51 PM
My daughter has been doing her hairdressing apprenticeship for about 18 months, with a large, well known hairdressing chain. Her employers are now saying they may cut her working week due to lack of trade. Do they still have to pay her the same amount or can they cut her £100 a week.
Many thanks.
Alison - 13 September 2011 @ 4:27 PM
I am currently in my 4th year of a motor mechanic apprentiship, I am paid by the hour for 4 days a week but don't recieve any money for my college day each week,is this correct?
Danny - 12 September 2011 @ 5:55 PM
I'm 21 years of age currently working as an apprentice security guard. My employer wants me to work alone for.15 hours (16.00 - 07.00) as I will be working alone on a construction site at night @£3 ph is this legal?
angry sec - 2 September 2011 @ 6:26 PM
Hi, I am currently a 21 year old doing an 'apprenticeship' in business administration. However, I have worked here for 6 months now and still have not started college! My manager just keeps saying that she keeps missing the person she needs to speak to and that now I can't be enrolled till the colleges start up again. This is really bothering me as obviously my manager is scamming me. Even though my manager is paying me more than what I would get else where, in terms of apprenticeship wage and we agreed on a rota when I am due pay rises. I know that something is not right yet don't really know how to confront them. Is this illegal? If so what action should I take?Thanks
KLM - 26 August 2011 @ 1:05 PM
I have been at my apprenticeship for a month and a week now. However i have not started my course yet, my boss keeps saying that he has contacted the learning provider and that the lady who's suppose to come see me ison holiday. Is this normal? I haveonly been paid £95 aweek should i be getting paid a normal wage seeing as am just doing his work. Which by the way has nothing todo with the courseam suppose to bedoing. Am 17 18 in october
margii - 15 August 2011 @ 9:35 PM
I am a 3rd year apprentice on £6 per hour. It's not unusual for me to work up to 70hrs+ a week including weekends, Currently I don't get time off unless I use up my holidays, meaning I'm working week after week without time off. Is my employer allowed to do this, in my opinion I'm being overworked and underpaid.
rob - 10 July 2011 @ 10:04 PM
I am 21 and I started a full time apprenticeship at 16 from leaving school, I finished in november 2009 and have been out of work since. I have just received a letter saying as I have not payed enough national insurance from tax year 2007-2008 so they can not pay me any more benifit (job seekers allowance). I was only earning £79pw and apparently did not make enough money to pay tax or national insurance, is this correct ? It shows on my P60 that I have not paid any national insurance or tax but if I had to pay tax and insurance this is down to the company to deduct it from my wage.
Craig - 4 July 2011 @ 6:02 PM
I am pregnant and would like to reduce my hours as I leave my town at 7.30 and don't arrive back to town til 18.10 so the days are long. Whats the minimum hours I can do and would this effect my £95 a week?
soph - 4 July 2011 @ 5:14 PM
If you feel you cannot raise your concerns with your manager, try to speak to the company's HR manager. Alternatively, you could contact your college tutor or local jobcentre for advice and support. For more information, read our article Dealing With A Bad Employer on this site.
AnApprenticeship - 23 June 2011 @ 12:10 PM
I'm a Business Apprentice, I recently started my work placement on Monday the 20th June 2011. I work at a housing association and I have to say, I hate it, well first of all. My manager always arrives 2 hours late in the morning. I get there for 9am, I'm sick and tired of waiting for him and his other workers that also arrive late. They never gave me a tour around the office building and they never showed me were the fire exits were or where the meeting points were. If there was a fire I wouldn't know where to go. They never discussed anything about the health and safety regulations. And I hate how they never give me any lunch or dinner breaks, or toilet breaks. They put me behind a dusty old desk and just told me to sit there and answer any phone calls and take messages. The manager, the direct manager and the property manager are all out dealing businesses while I'm all left alone in the office. They are very bossy. And one more thing, I pay a lot of money to travel there plus I don't get any travel expenses. Can anyone help me out? What should I do? I'm 17 by the way, this is my 1st job. This has really been bothering me :(
Jasmine - 22 June 2011 @ 8:27 PM
Hi Karen. This happens a lot with hairdressing apprentices, I have worked in two hairdressing salons as apprentices and most of the time they do use you as cheap labour, it seems to be a common theme with apprentices. Not being paid correctly, not giving dinners breaks or sick pay. Your daughter is entitled to all of these. I am not sure whether your daughter is at college or not as you havent mentioned it or whether she is with a training provider. If she is with either of these then you should speak to the College or training provider as it is breaching her employment contract, unless they have given her written warnings and or given her a paid notice period. If she is not with a training provider or a college then you can contact a local claims court as she should have been paid minimun wage, not the 100 pound a week apprentice wage. I am 18 and still an apprentice now, at an Estate Agents which I prefer a lot more as being an apprentice hairdresser you do seem to be used as a bit of a dogs body which i know from a lot of experience.
Alex - 17 June 2011 @ 3:34 PM
My daugher has been given a 3 year apprenticeship contract but has been told she needs to get another job after just 2 years? She really needs the third year working in the salon to gain experience. She also really loves her job and where she works. I feel her employers have not been as supportive to her as they could have been and they treated her very badly when she had to have an operation and had to have two weeks off, with no sick pay. Who can we speak to for advice on this matter? These websites are great but you can never find a phone number to speak to someone. I understand employers get money to train apprentices but I fear they use them as cheap labour. They can't train until all the cleaning is finished, which is a never ending task. I would appreciate a reply. Thank you.
Karen - 15 June 2011 @ 12:25 PM
Hi I am under 18 and sure I am working too many hours? 9-6 tues thurs fri 8.30 - 4 sat & 9-4 college on weds, I get 20 mins for lunch break occasionally.Get paid £100 per week is this correct? thankyou. Kathy
kathy - 1 June 2011 @ 9:54 AM
Daughter has been a hair dressing apprentice for 3 years. The salon owners have fobbed her off about a contract over this time apparently hairdressers don't have contracts!!! She has just finished the training and is fully qualified. Now her hourly wage should go up they are going to cut her one day from her working week! To no doubt compensate. what rights does she have here? There has been no discussion over this at all she feels if she makes a fuss they will sack her!
Duffs - 28 May 2011 @ 12:49 AM
I'm 19, is an apprentce allowed to work shifts, 1 week about, 6-2, 2-10 any info would be great thanks.
jamie - 11 May 2011 @ 10:56 AM
I'm 19 but Can an apprentice work shifts? Night shifts and day shifts on a rotor of 6 days on 4 days off, 4 days on, 6 days off? any info would be great :) Thanks
John - 4 May 2011 @ 8:19 PM
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