Hiring School-Age Employees

Are you looking at hiring school-age employees?

Employing school-age workers comes with additional legal requirements. Read on to understand the rules around hours, pay and the types of work they can perform.

Restrictions on working hours

If you employ school-aged students, their work hours must be outside of school hours and they cannot work between 10pm and 6am. Essentially, they cannot work any time that interferes with their schoolwork. This includes times that interfere with the student doing schoolwork.

Employment agreement

School-age employees must have a written employment agreement, just like any other employee. They are entitled to the same minimum employment rights as adults, although minimum wage rules may differ depending on their age.

Many young employees will want help understanding their rights and obligations. Provide the agreement before their start date and allow them time to review it with a parent, caregiver or another support person if they choose. All employees have the right to support or representation when dealing with their employer.

Click here to read more about different Employment Agreement types and access our templates.

Minimum wage

There’s no minimum wage for workers under 16 years old.
For 16- and 17-year-olds that have not completed 6 months’ continuous service with an employer, you can pay them the starting out rate of $19.16 per hour.
Once a 16- or 17-year-old completes 6 months continuous’ service or turns 18, they are entitled to the adult minimum wage of $23.95.

See our full advice on the minimum wage in New Zealand here.

Record the employee’s age in wage and time records

Just like for all employees, you must keep accurate wage and time records for young employees. In addition, if the employee is under 20 years of age, you must record the employee’s age in these records.

Restrictions on work

In a retail setting, an employee under 15 years old cannot work:

in any area where the work requires lifting heavy weights;
in any area where the work being done is likely to harm the employee; or
with any machinery or assist work with any machinery.

An employee under 18 years old cannot work in:

Any restricted area of a licensed premises, usually if that area is open for the sale of liquor. However, they can work in these areas if they are performing specific tasks: preparing or serving any meal; cleaning, repairing, maintaining, altering or restocking the area of any equipment; removing or replacing any equipment; stocktaking; or checking or removing cash.
Direct access to gaming machines in gaming venues. This covers bars, taverns and clubs – essentially venues where a gaming machine society has obtained a licence to operate gaming machines.
Sex work.

Supporting young employees to succeed

For many school-age employees, a holiday job may be their first experience of the workplace. Taking time to provide clear guidance and support can help them build confidence, learn faster and become valuable members of your team. For more guidance, see our Guide to Managing People.

Don’t assume young employees know workplace norms. Explain your expectations around punctuality, customer service, dress standards, phone use, breaks and professional behaviour. Be specific about what is and isn’t acceptable in your workplace.

Many young people learn best when they can refer back to information. Written checklists, task guides or simple step-by-step instructions can be helpful while they are learning new tasks. Research suggests younger workers often prefer clear processes and detailed instructions over broad directions.

Consider pairing new starters with an experienced employee for their first few shifts. Having someone they can shadow and ask questions of can help them settle in more quickly and reduce uncertainty. Structured onboarding and regular opportunities for feedback can be particularly valuable for younger workers

Young employees are often more likely to engage with workplace requirements when they understand why they matter. Whether it’s health and safety procedures, stock handling, or customer service standards, take time to explain the purpose behind the rules.

Don’t assume a school-age employee knows how workplace processes operate. Explain how to request leave, who to contact if they are sick, how much notice is expected, and what to do if they are running late.

Many younger workers value regular feedback and reassurance that they are on the right track. Check in during their first few weeks, acknowledge what’s going well, and address issues early. Make it clear that asking questions is encouraged.

Mistakes are a normal part of learning any new job. Where appropriate, use errors as coaching opportunities and help young employees understand how to fix them and avoid repeating them in future.

Are you recruitment ready?

It’s important to be sure that you’re bringing the right people into your business, and that you follow a good process. Then you can avoid all sorts of problems down the track.

To help you get this right, we’ve developed a guide to all facets of recruitment. It’s a comprehensive resource covering all aspects of the process.

It’s FREE for Retail NZ members (or $55 plus GST for non-members). Get your copy of the guide from our resource library.

Got questions?

Retail NZ members can contact our Advice Service on 0800 472 472 (1800 128 086 from Australia), or email [email protected].

As an employer, you need to provide employment agreement with all the important information to a school age employee if you are hiring them. Retail NZ members have access to the Employment Agreement templates free of cost and relevant resources like guides at a discounted price. You can also call our friendly advice service to explain and seek help on your individual situation. Not a Retail NZ member? Click here to learn more about joining our supportive Retail NZ community.

Updated September 2026.

Want more advice?

Retail NZ members have unlimited access to our Advice Service, with 1-on-1 business advice just a phone call away, and get important retail sector updates sent straight to their inbox. Find out how being a part of New Zealand’s leading retailing community can help take your business further.

Learn More