Left work, didn't receive full wage.

ClassyPenguin

Hey there,

This is a bit of a confusing story, but I'll try and make it simple. Any help would be really appreciated, as I'm completely clueless on these matters and would just like to know where I stand.

Earlier this month, I left my job. It was the most soul-destroying job I've had and each day was a constant struggle, so I didn't hang out the notice period. However, I did explain to my manager that I wasn't enjoying the job anymore and that I would be leaving. Now, the notice period is 3 months, so I wasn't in any mood to stick around that long somewhere I disliked. So I simply left.

Now, in my contract it states that "if the employment is terminated at anytime within the first 3 months, we will deduct two weeks worth of wages to cover the expenses of training you."

Now, that's fair enough, it's there in plain English. However, I'm slightly frustrated that they took 400 pounds from me for 4 days of training. Not even full days at that. It consisted of simply a room no bigger than my small flat's kitchen, and maybe 20 pieces of paper and a notepad handed out to us. Most of those 4 days, we were allowed to leave early on half-days, as they had nothing left to teach us, the timesheets show this.

I'm guessing I'm out of luck on this, am I right? I understand that it is in the contract, and I guess they can make any rules they want, but if I knew that it would consist of 4 part days before I signed the contract, then I really wouldn't have jumped into it. Just wondering if there is anything possible that I could mention to them, as I just received my final payslip and haven't called them up yet or anything.

Thanking you for any replies! Apologies for my simpleness.

Debt_Free_Chick

I suspect that what they're claiming is the cost of four days lost work i.e. you didn't work for four days.

If you were being paid £25k or more, then £100 a day is not unreasonable. No harm in querying it though and seeing what they say. But I wouldn't hold out much luck as you are in breach of contract by not working your notice - sorry

TotallyBroke

Could they also have taken for any holidays you have taken but not actually accrued. Say you get 12 days for the year, so for every month worked you get 1 day. (I'm making it really simple here) if you leave in month 6 but have taken eight days you will owe them for that.

Chinkle

Whether the training took four whole days or not, that was what was allocated, assume you went home after rather than going back to work. As long as £400 represents 4 days pay I don't think you have anything to challenge.

You're lucky they aren't making you work your notice.

ClassyPenguin

Thanks for the replies.

400 pounds does not represent 4 days pay in my position, sadly. It was a pretty basic job, so I'd have been extremely lucky to receive that much wage.

To be fair, also, they can't make me work my notice, it's a completely pointless and damaging situation for them. The entire job is based around sales, so any motivation on my part evaporates as soon as I express my desire to leave.