Employer asking for money to even up till at end of day - is this legal?

sarahlouise210

I would just find another job .........think about it ..you only need one dodgy member of staff with their fingers in the till - they would know that if they took £20 they would only need to repay part of it as the other staff members would have to chip in the rest! I dont know if this is legal but it ceertainly is not what I would expect. When I worked as a waitress we had to make up any losses due to people "doing a runner" out of our tips ..this was bad enough but at least it was not out of your actual wages.!

hjb123

If its a high street chain I would get in touch with their head office or speak to someone that has been there a while and check whether that is the policy and whether it is implemented or just there to put frighteners on the staff.

I worked for a high street chain a few years ago and they never had a policy like that when I was working for them

I would also want to see proof - like a till run off or something to show that the till was down before anything happened - whos to say the manager is not pulling a swift one and saying oh the till was down by so much you have to repay it. Actually to be honest if they did have that policy I would find an employer that didnt!

Hoddie_2

For them to claim a shortage from your wage, I'd imagine you'd have to have sole access to the till yourself, and be given a chance to count/agree the float before you start work.

boobless

you should advise your wife that before she accesses the till she has a right to know the monetary condition, if she is there at the start of the day, she and any other employee using the till has a right to count and check the float and till contents (advise 2 people) if there is a discrepancy she should not use this till until a manager/supervisor has written off the amount in writing and make sure the till receipt system has been reset to zero for the days costings and activitys - she has a right to ask for this, if employer/manager refuses she can refuse to justify any shortfall from her salary/own pocket on the basis of possible clerical error - my experience is of licensed premises but i am sure most retail outlets would be the same.

SonniC55

Dec
Think its worth checking your wife's employment contract in detail on this one
In particular any notes on liability for till descrepancies.
As far as im aware if this practice is not stated in the contract signed by the wife then the employer is effectivley making an illegal deduction from earnings.

Hope this helps

HugoSP

Deductions from pay for losses incurred by your employer even if it's down to you are in fact illegal unless a contract of employment allows it.

In the motor trade there is often a rider that employees must meet the excess of any damage they do to a car - usually around £250. However I have never signed a contract to that effect and indeed was not asked to pay when I did prang a van once.

This I suspect will be covered under the Wages Act.