Should I pay my student?

Should I pay my student?

Payment is not a requirement for most work experience placements, but there are definitely instances when it should be considered further.
Young person getting experience operating a tractor pto. Picture: Riccardo Magliola, at Harper Adams.

School work experience students are not usually paid. Where the student is doing a prolonged and regular work experience placement as part of a college course, students are usually paid the minimum wage for their age.

This helps build mutual respect and instantly creates a clear employer-employee working relationship. The education provider the student attends will be able to discuss this with you further if you have any questions, and you should seek payroll advice if you're unsure of any implications. 

In instances when an employer pays the student, this may have implications for payroll as they should then be registered for that financial year.