Advice: Basic Salary Being deducted from???

Savvy_Sue

princeofpounds wrote: »

IIRC there is also a small exemption for money handling staff which allows shopkeepers to deduct small mistakes in the float between shifts.

I thought that had to be covered by an agreement in writing, before it happened.

Googlewhacker

princeofpounds wrote: »

It's illegal deduction of wages, very clear cut. Wages can only be deducted under certain special circumstances, which in brief are:

- statute: i.e. the law demands it (attachment of earnings orders or tax for example).
- contractual terms (and even then there are rules)
- agreed in writing by employee.

IIRC there is also a small exemption for money handling staff which allows shopkeepers to deduct small mistakes in the float between shifts.

If none of these applies you can go to a tribunal, get the practice stopped, get our money back. Of course it takes effort and has future consequences. Often the threat of it is enough.

If it is in writing what about damage to employers property, could that count as a a deduction if it is writing?

Savvy_Sue

Googlewhacker wrote: »

If it is in writing what about damage to employers property, could that count as a a deduction if it is writing?

I believe so, but I think it would have to be carefully phrased. I'm not sure that a blanket 'any damage to property' clause would wash, and I think it would only be 'actual' losses which could be claimed, ie employer would be expected to have insurance to cover things, therefore it might only be the excess which could be reclaimed.

WMKSales

SarEl wrote: »

Good point - although if there is no union (and I am assuming there isn't) then I am afraid that my experience is that most people don't want to put their head over the parapet. After all, the other people here have been accepting this as ok - you'd have thought someone would have questioned it if they didn't.

There isn't a union unfortunately, and i know the other manager isn't happy about it but i dont think he would say anything so if i do i would be on my own.

Sounds like this is going to be a very interesting conversation.

Cheers for all the advice guys and girls! Wish me luck!

paulwf

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

People's ignorance of basic employment law never fails to astonish me. The boss says something, and no-one says "Is that legal?" May never have occurred to the boss that it isn't legal, of course, employers can be pretty ignorant too ...

Slightly off topic but the last 2 jobs I interviewed for both had holiday entitlements that were below the legal minimum. I know the entitlement has been in transition but when neither the employer or the employees can keep up with such basic info you can tell their business isn't one worth working for as they are hardly going to be on the ball with other things.