We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Emplyer wants to charge employees for locker keys.

Options
Hi everyone
I work for a big well known company.When I started 6 years ago each of us were given locker and a key, so we can keep our stuff locked and secured.Now a lot of those keys went missing.Got lost or employees left the job without giving it back and so on...
They decided now to change every lock in our lockers but they want us to pay for it.Basicaly they say we have to give £5 to get a new key.It doesnt mater that i still have an old key for my locker,they will change every single lock.
I know its only £5, but it just doesnt sound right.Why do we have to pay for the repairs inside the company?

Is that actualy legal?
«1

Comments

  • LadyMissA
    LadyMissA Posts: 3,263 Forumite
    Kluikis wrote: »
    Hi everyone
    I work for a big well known company.When I started 6 years ago each of us were given locker and a key, so we can keep our stuff locked and secured.Now a lot of those keys went missing.Got lost or employees left the job without giving it back and so on...
    They decided now to change every lock in our lockers but they want us to pay for it.Basicaly they say we have to give £5 to get a new key.It doesnt mater that i still have an old key for my locker,they will change every single lock.
    I know its only £5, but it just doesnt sound right.Why do we have to pay for the repairs inside the company?

    Is that actualy legal?

    companies do pay a lot out for lost keys by staff so maybe it is a bit of both fair and unfair but ask them this since you have had a key for 6 years and not lost it, if you pay them the key money will it be refunded if you left their employment. If not they are actually asking you to pay for the keys
  • bap98189
    bap98189 Posts: 3,801 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Are they asking for a deposit which will be returned when you leave the company? If so it seems fair enough as a way to cover the cost of lost keys. If on the other hand they expect staff to actually pay for the key then I would keep it when you leave and they will have to change the lock again.
  • suicidebob
    suicidebob Posts: 771 Forumite
    bap98189 wrote: »
    If on the other hand they expect staff to actually pay for the key then I would keep it when you leave and they will have to change the lock again.

    This is stupid and childish.

    What if they just stopped providing keys and left the lockers permanently opened? £5 to keep your personal possessions safe and secure seems entirely reasonable to me.
  • teajug
    teajug Posts: 488 Forumite
    edited 28 July 2011 at 9:25AM
    Are you allowed to keep personal belonging in your pockets while you are working eg door, car keys, credit card, money change, bus passes and other personal items that you may need during your working day, how far away are the locker from where your work station is....do you have to travel up 4 floor to get to where the lockers are situated.
  • DVardysShadow
    DVardysShadow Posts: 18,949 Forumite
    suicidebob wrote: »
    This is stupid and childish.

    What if they just stopped providing keys and left the lockers permanently opened? £5 to keep your personal possessions safe and secure seems entirely reasonable to me.
    Stupidity and childishness breeds stupidity and childishness. The employer is up for criticism here.

    Probably the thing to do is to sell the key back for £5.

    Wait :money: £6.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • suicidebob
    suicidebob Posts: 771 Forumite
    Stupidity and childishness breeds stupidity and childishness. The employer is up for criticism here.

    Probably the thing to do is to sell the key back for £5.

    Wait :money: £6.

    1. Numerous keys have already been lost. The employees didn't pay for these.
    2. There's no clarification whether the £5 is a deposit or not. It most likely is.
    3. It is entirely correct that employees pay for these 'repairs'.

    I don't see how the employer should be criticised in any way. It's a case of employees being stupid, lazy and selfish.
  • SueC_2
    SueC_2 Posts: 1,673 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I may be wrong, but I don't think the employer is obliged to provide you with a locker (free or otherwise), and you are not obliged to accept the locker.

    If you're not happy paying the £5, hand your key back and say "thanks, but no thanks".
  • MsHoarder
    MsHoarder Posts: 410 Forumite
    suicidebob wrote: »
    1. Numerous keys have already been lost. The employees didn't pay for these.
    2. There's no clarification whether the £5 is a deposit or not. It most likely is.
    3. It is entirely correct that employees pay for these 'repairs'.

    I don't see how the employer should be criticised in any way. It's a case of employees being stupid, lazy and selfish.

    Some employees have been stupid, lazy and selfish, that doesn't mean that all of them are and that they should all be charged for this.
    "Every single person has at least one secret that would break your heart. If we could just remember this, I think there would be a lot more compassion and tolerance in the world."
    — Frank Warren
  • Gillyx
    Gillyx Posts: 6,847 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Would agree with what SueC said. The amount of thefts in my work were ridiculous, because people would leave there phones in jacket pockets etc. Our lockers were free of charge but if you lost your key they would give you the spare to pay to get another key cut.

    On the grand scheme of things £5 for a locker for the duration that you will work there, doesn't seem a bad deal to me. Some people I know don't even have the option of lockers.
    The frontier is never somewhere else. And no stockades can keep the midnight out.
  • DVardysShadow
    DVardysShadow Posts: 18,949 Forumite
    suicidebob wrote: »
    1. Numerous keys have already been lost. The employees didn't pay for these.
    2. There's no clarification whether the £5 is a deposit or not. It most likely is.
    3. It is entirely correct that employees pay for these 'repairs'.

    I don't see how the employer should be criticised in any way. It's a case of employees being stupid, lazy and selfish.
    1. OP did not lose any key
    2. OP says a charge is being made. Even if it is a deposit, it is his money he does not have the use of.
    3. OP requires no repairs

    Employer can be criticised for penalizing OP, who has not been stupid, lazy or selfish for the shortcomings of others.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.