Subway is also called Doctor’s Associates Inc. is a fast food restaurant franchise that sells mainly submarine sandwiches or subs as they are called, along with beverages and salads. Founded several years ago, today it is one of the leading foreign franchise fast-food restaurants in Australia. It is also one of the first places many boys and girls work their first summer jobs.
One of the questions many youngsters ask is how old do they need to be for Subway to employ them. While the answer may appear simple, in actuality, it depends on the position you are applying for. Subway, like any leading franchise, has several positions that may need to be filled at any given time. Each job may require either a highly qualified person, a low skilled yet younger person, or someone who is both young and skilled. That’s why the ages of people who Subway employs varies.
How Old Does an Individual Need to Get a Job in Australia?
Now we don’t want to start by talking about the minimum age at which Subway will employ a youngster because it can easily be skewed as a rule that’s specific to Subway. That’s why we will start by discussing what the lowest minimum age is for anyone who is looking to get employed in Australia.
Australian labour laws mandate that anyone as young as 13 can be employed in many different industries. However, there are just as many industries where a young person can’t be employed. Anti-child labour laws prohibit children, i.e. anyone under the age of 18 from being employed at jobs that are labour-intensive like scrubbing the floors, breaking ships, the fishing industry etc. So, employers that hire people under 18 and in particular anyone under 15 needs to be very careful of what they are hired to do.
People in their early teens can be hired to carry out light work like data entry, setting up the aisles at a department store, some types of customer service tasks etc. It is worth noting at this point that employers also can’t discriminate solely based on age. For instance, if a job can be handled by a 13-year-old, and it isn’t hard labour or does not require handling tasks that only a legal adult can handle, then an employer can’t turn away a 13-year-old simply because they are too young. Employers need to have a solid reason behind turning down a job applicant.
Working Age Requirements Vary with Industries and Nature of Work
The minimum age requirement tends to vary quite a bit depending on the industry, present state laws and nature of work. All businesses and industries are governed by state and federal laws which means that young teens can’t be employed for hard labour. However, there are other instances where young teens can’t be employed without question, such as where their lives may be in danger like at a fire station or maybe a prison. So, while the job itself may be easy and light, the place may not be child friendly.
It is essential for parents of teens under the age of 18 to do a bit of research before they allow children to work in certain industries. For instance, you wouldn’t want a child working in a chemical factory even if it is just tagging barrels with a barcode. Technically it is a light job with low to no stress, but a chemical factory is a dangerous place for a youngster.
How Old Should You Be to Get Employed at Subway?
Subway does not specify an age limit, and as such, they don’t have a minimum age limit that’s below the standard 13-years of age. However, generally, Subway does not employ anyone who is under 16 years of age. There are quite a few reasons for this which include the fact that subway wants to hire youngsters who are responsible and understand their responsibilities.
Subway has two primary entry-level positions that may employ anyone under 18:
- A Sandwich Artist- These are people who are tasked with greeting customers and preparing the food. Some routine tasks include washing hands before handling any food, using knives to cut bread, communicating with customers, operating a toaster oven, and making sure the workstation is clean at all times.
- Cashier- Cashiers obviously handle cash, but they are also responsible for upselling and tallying final purchases for the food sold. So, a youngster with some basic computer and math skill is needed.
Above isn’t an extensive list of all the jobs that Subway has for young people, but it is meant to serve as an outline of what type of work young people can expect to get. In addition to being the right age, you also need to meet the job’s minimum requirements to get hired.
Show that You are Willing to Work Hard and Learn at Subway
Subway is known to be an equal opportunity employer. The franchise does not discriminate based on age, gender, or ethnicity. However, if you are the right age, it is up to you to also show that you are willing and able to work in that environment. That will often mean that you get hired for a probationary period after which you either get an extension or permanent employment.
During the probationary period, youngsters should be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the environment. They should also show their willingness to learn and ability to follow orders. Moving forward having the skills they learn at a franchise like Subway can be invaluable in their careers regardless of if it is in the restaurant industry or elsewhere.
