Advice on sons job

Hoddie_2

It is illegal. Simple as. There's nothing your son could legally do to prevent such a thing from happening. It's like docking the wages of supermarket staff for everything that's shoplifted.

jillie1974

maybe the garage should do what my local one does-
aftre 7pm you have to pay for the fuel first, they have some sort of switchthat wont allow the pumps to work otherwise

Astaroth

Personally, if your son is 16 I would say that it is up to him to discuss it with his boss. I dont think "mummy" shouting at/ making a scene with the boss is going to look very good either in the eyes of his co-workers nor very good on his references for up to the next 5 years.

It certainly is good that you care and certainly give him pointers but it really has to be him (or his union/ supervisor) who takes it up with management.

I cannot say it is legal or not but the previously mentioned ACAS will be able to. Personally I would want more clarification from the bosses on the terms of the policy are.... if it is simply all drive offs are deducted from the staffs wages then there is certainly the challenge of how are they supposed to stop it. If however it is in only in cases where a known offender comes in and they still "activate" the pump and then the person drives off then there is possibly an argument for it.

Optimist

This would seem to be a case where the police have renaged on their responsibilities to catch the drive offs, criminals by any other name, (nothing surprising there, lots of easier targets) and the employers have decided not to loose out, and to pass the buck to their employees.

The Employment Rights Act 1996 actually gives retail workers special protection in that the employer can deduct no more than 10% of any gross wages in respect of cash/stock shortages. However they can deduct 10% from the workers gross wage in installments until said shortfall is made up.

There are certain conditions before doing this one of which is that they must let the worker know in writing the full amount he owes and they must make a written demand for payment on one of his paydays.

Its seems somewhat pedantic that they are making your son pay for what is in effect a criminal act by persons unknown but which can be proofed to have taken place. I assume they have cameras covering the forecourt.

I don't know if this is a major supermarket but they should have a complaints process which I suggest your son and his other workers start with. By all means phone ACAS plus a quiet word to your local paper might provide some unwelcome publicity to both them and the local police

Fran

Optimist wrote:

The Employment Rights Act 1996 actually gives retail workers special protection in that the employer can deduct no more than 10% of any gross wages in respect of cash/stock shortages.

Surely that would apply to situations that the employee has some access/control over?

Have they given them a copy of this "letter from police"?

To me it sounds like unlawful deduction from wages, did you get anywhere with this?

If it's the responsibility of the cashier and everyone else isn't bothered, let me know where the garage is and I'll pop in for some free petrol. :silenced:

lynzpower

I would also enquire, what emplolyees have in thier power to resist the drive-offs?

Are they meant to approach the river- throw themselves under the wheels of the car?

I guess for this co to get away with it, they have to have something like a barrier that allows the car to get out only when petrol is paid for or a pre-pay system.

You cant expect an employee to foil/solve a crime thats what the police are there for.