My son has not been paid for his work -- what to do???

bendix

arunadasi wrote: »

He wasn't freelance; he was (or should be!) paid on a basis of how according to hours he actually worked with clients, but as an emplyee.
They parted company under mutual agreement. He hated it there; he is over-qualified for a start, and he hated the fake smiley-smiley act they wanted him to put on. They even had the cheek to ask him to come back for one session, as a client had requested him personally.

What makes you say so definitely that he was an employee? Despite what you sayhere, it still sounds very much to me that he was effectively freelance.

I notice you've avoided answering the question about his tax status.

arunadasi

bendix wrote: »

What makes you say so definitely that he was an employee? Despite what you sayhere, it still sounds very much to me that he was effectively freelance.

I say so because he told me so.

I notice you've avoided answering the question about his tax status.

And I notice that you suspect the worst. But that is your problem, not mine. His tax status is irrelevant to my question, and I really have too scratch my head when a member asks a simple question and instead of answering it helpfully, all kinds of subtle and not-so-subtle accusations emerge: tax evasion, stupidity of not going himself to the hotel, being a domineering mother. What has all of this to do with the question????

Hammyman

I bet it was being done as cash in hand. The term freelance isn't used with employees.

arunadasi

Hammyman wrote: »

I bet it was being done as cash in hand. The term freelance isn't used with employees.

Is that yet another nasty allegation?
The only person who used the term "freelance" was me. I wasn't sure of the terms of his work -- I said freelance here, in this thread, because that's what I thought; but I was mistaken; he was an employee. And for the record, I have seen the email they sent him acknowledging the debt.

And what's more, they have just sent another mail, in response to the mail he sent yesterday threatening with the employment tribunal, that the cheque is in the post. Remains to be seen if that is true, but in the meantime it would be really, really nice if people on MSE were polite and respectful in answering questions; I believe there is a request form Martin somewhere to this effect.

I'm not British (though I was by birth, having been born in one of your colonies) but I spent much of my yougt here and one of the things that I always loved about the British is just that: kindness, politeness, just plain decency. I left and returned to settle here ten years ago for that reason, and it's amazing how much things have changed. Politeness has often been replaced by boorishness, as in this thread, with the not so subtly worded accusations of theft, stupidity, and being an overbearing mother.

Thanks to all who were genuinely helpful; as it happens, the situation sorted itself out by itself*, but it was frustrating for him while it happened, and it helped to know what to do, now and in the future.

*though maybe it was that threat with employment tribunal that did the trick...

Hammyman

arunadasi wrote: »

Is that yet another nasty allegation?

No. Why so offensive in your reply? Cash in hand for odd days work is not uncommon in the hotel and hospitality industry.

And as it was you who mentioned freelance, the only person to blame for any comments based on that is you for bringing it up.

suicidebob

Hammyman wrote: »

No. Why so offensive in your reply? Cash in hand for odd days work is not uncommon in the hotel and hospitality industry.

And as it was you who mentioned freelance, the only person to blame for any comments based on that is you for bringing it up.

That might apply to small independent hotels, but generally not to a place like the Langham.

hcb42

I work in hotel management and have done for years. Cash in hand is NOT the done thing..!

The only people who ever get cash in hand as such are bands and DJs - but this means we pay (some of them) in cash, if they are irregular artistes - but it is still properly invoiced.

arunadasi

Hammyman wrote: »

No. Why so offensive in your reply? Cash in hand for odd days work is not uncommon in the hotel and hospitality industry.

Well, if he had received cash in hand, why would I have posted this thread at all?

And as it was you who mentioned freelance, the only person to blame for any comments based on that is you for bringing it up

.

I know - and I corrected myself. Sorry I snapped at you if yours was an innocent remark, and not yet another backhanded insinuation -- people just seem to be piling it on in this thread!

Hammyman

arunadasi wrote: »

Hammyman wrote: »

Well, if he had received cash in hand, why would I have posted this thread at all?
.

I know - and I corrected myself. Sorry I snapped at you if yours was an innocent remark, and not yet another backhanded insinuation -- people just seem to be piling it on in this thread!

OK, not being from this fair isle...

"Cash in hand" refers to being casually employed, sometimes off the books, sometimes on as HMRC make provisions for employers for "one off" employment of people in the manner your son was. I expect most people have done a cash in hand job at some time or another - sometimes you get paid at the end of the day, sometimes you're asked to come back later. It doesn't imply you get paid there and then.

arunadasi

Ok -- one learns something new each day!