Not paid after shop closes (up to 45 mins a shift) is that legal?

standardman

I work in retail, our store closes at 20:00 and we usually work until half past or quarter to so we can clean the shop, process the tills and generally close up. We don't, however, get paid for anything after those shutters go down. 30-45 mins doesn't sound a lot but it mounts up to a lot of working for free and that free work means I have to get a later train.

Is this legal? I'm paid hourly.

Owain_Moneysaver

It's legal provided it doesn't take your average hourly pay below the National Minimum Wage.

However I used to cash up 2 tills, do the banking, and get out the shop door within 10-15 minutes - no cleaning - if you are doing cleaning as well I think that has to be classed as work time.

standardman

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

It's legal provided it doesn't take your average hourly pay below the National Minimum Wage.

However I used to cash up 2 tills, do the banking, and get out the shop door within 10-15 minutes - no cleaning - if you are doing cleaning as well I think that has to be classed as work time.

Thanks, I get paid minimum wage as it is, so I suppose it would.

ceridwen

As you state you are on NMW - then the shop has two choices:

1. Pay you for the worktime you are currently not being paid for

OR

2. Stop expecting you to do unpaid overtime.

So - my suggestion is that you ask your Union rep. to point out to them (on behalf of everyone - not just yourself) that they (ie the Shop) are making themselves vulnerable to being pursued for paying less than NMW OR stop expecting you all to do that unpaid overtime. The ball is in their court as to which of those two options they go for.

paulwf

The company should definitely be paying at least some of the staff to stay on. If the close down process starts 15 minutes before you close you should all be able to get out within 15 minutes after closing.

angelbob

yeah i know what you mean i've worked in retail for years (different big retailers too) and they all seem to do it, you stand around for ages normally waiting for custmers to go, then tills, tidying etc etc and all for no pay, it takes the mick but from my experience they all do it.