If a shop pays me less than the UK minimum wage(£5 Vs £5.73) is that against the law?

maz_student

Background: Ive just enquired about a job (cashier in a chinese food outlet) and the lady wants to interview me in 2 days time. They seem pretty desperate (I know the job has been advertised for quite a while).

The problem: the lady said the salary is £5 and im uncomfortable because the minimum wage is £5.73 (since im 24). She said its £5 until I "get used to the system" (referring to the cash register)....:rolleyes:....umm.....ok.....:o

Im not happy because.... minimum wage should be paid regardless of whatever the task involves
(So, regardless of whatever till they have on their premises).
Isnt this against the law or something??

__

Shall i go for the interview but politely refuse later on (im pretty sure she'll offer it to me) and instead keep looking elsewhere?

Im not a scrooge, but if im going to be working 4 hours a day:
£5/hour = £20
£5.73/hour = £22.92
Difference: £2.92
A difference of ~£3/day builds up over time!!

I have a feeling:
(a) they'll most probably cut corners in other areas aswell...
(b) they're going to be an employer which makes stuff up as they go along (e.g. "get used to the system before we pay you minimum wage")


Or should I be happy with whatever it is (in the current financial climate).
Please can I have your honest thoughts. What would you do if you were me?

Sidenote - This is not my full time job. Its only an evening / weekend job. Im currently jobhunting online for a full-time job.

Barneysmom

Honestly? If it was me, I'd do the job for a while and then ask them why I wasn't being paid the minimum wage, after say 2 weeks.
But if I didn't get it I'd then get legal advice.

maz_student

thats the thing. I dont want to faff around with legal advice and what not.
I dont want to waste my time....

Reds-on-Sea

I'd be assertive (in a nice way) and just tell them that you're happy to take the job on the condition that they pay you the minimum wage from day 1.

In my opinion, you'll come across as assertive and intelligent and the fact that you're not a pushover implies that you know your worth, and it's more than £5ph. Say you do things by the book (including the work you'll be doing there) Obviously don't bully them, and keep in mind that if they say No, you can't really go back on it.

barginboyrob

get free food though

prowla

I think it's illegal.

bristol_pilot

Report them to HMRC. This could result in an in-depth examination of their tax affairs which will serve them right.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw/#e

ceridwen

Wot Reds-on-Sea said - ie tell them its NMW right from the outset (after all - dont forget - some at least of your hours will be at antisocial hours - so, boy, would you be resentful in no time flat at getting an illegally low amount....).

After all - the job has been advertised for a while as you said - so people arent exactly falling over themselves to do it even in these straitened times....

brightonman123

what was the job advertised for, out of interest?

afaik £5.73 is absolute minimum for adults- trining or not..

oliverp_2

This sounds to me like it may be a cash in hand, no payslip kind of job. No payslips = no proof of being paid below NMW.

maz_student

Thanks for all the replies, everyone
Ive given this a lot of thought and tomorrow Im going to go see her and tell her i've changed my mind and am no longer interested in applying.

brightonman123 wrote: »

what was the job advertised for, out of interest?

afaik £5.73 is absolute minimum for adults- trining or not..

Not too sure what you meant.
If you meant 'what was the job role', then it is a cashier in a chinese take-away food store. I mentioned that at the top of my post, but perhaps I didnt make that clear enough.
If you meant 'how much was the salary advertised', it said 'minimum wage'. Thats why I questioned her when she mentioned the salary (because I said 'but on the job advert it said 'minimum wage', and she replied words to the effect of "you will get £5/hour until you understand the system").

oliverp wrote: »

This sounds to me like it may be a cash in hand, no payslip kind of job. No payslips = no proof of being paid below NMW.

Perhaps. It just sounds fishy. I wont be applying for it - no way. I know that cash-in-hand is against the law. Plus, im probably one of the few people in the world who actually *wants* to pay tax, lol. I want to contribute towards my pension!

Even if they did pay me £5.73 -- but via cash-in-hand -- I would stop working there immediately. Im paranoid about things like this and dont want to break the law, EVER! lol

barginboyrob wrote:

get free food though

Even if i did get free food, it hardly costs them anything and it would most probably have gone in the bin, anyway. I want to save up as much money as possible to buy my house. The way I see it, both parties should do their duty: the employee should be honest/reliable, and likewise, the employer should do things within the law.

Once again, thanks everyone for your replies :T