Pay Problem

sturgeon62

Hi
This is regarding my sixteen year old son.
He passed a test and interview for a part time job. He was asked to come back and work the next evening to see how he got on. This he did and was told to work from 6pm until 9pm. He actually never finished until 9.20pm and was even asked if he could stay later, unfortunately he was going out for a friends birthday celebration and had a table booked for 10pm, he explained this and was told it was not a problem. He enquired about what would happen next and was asked to ring on the following Monday. As he attends college that day he rung the next day and was told they would call him on Monday and leave a message if he was not there. They did not. So he called them and was told a letter was in the post. He received it this morning and it told him he did not have a job. He then telephoned to enquire about the pay for this time and was told as he was not taken on then he would not be paid, apparantly he should have been told this at interview. He was also lead to believe he was to be paid when he tried to give the Friday night manager his details. He was told not to worry with them then as they would take the details on monday. The Lady he spoke to said he should of been offered a Pizza on the night, but no one did.
Is this right? It seems very unfair that he should work for over three hours and not get paid. He was not told that he was doing anything wrong and obviously must have been doing something right or they would not have asked him to work even longer.
I have written to the head office but just wondered if there was anyone else to contact.
This was a friday night and the place was heaving. The company must do very well out of this arrangement.

Tigger36

If your son is over the official school leaving age then report them:
National Minimum Wage Helpline 0845 6000 678. This is also the number to ring if you think you are being underpaid and wish to make a complaint. All complaints about underpayment of the National Minimum Wage are treated in the strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous if they wish to do so.

TrikerAndBiker

A company has a duty to pay 'employees' for any work carried out even whilst on probation. May I suggest you contact ACAS for further advice on 08457 47 47 47

sturgeon62

Many thanks will try both of those.

sturgeon62

Just to update you I phoned ACAS who told me to write to them, recorded delivery, giving them 28 days to rectify the matter.
Also the minimum wage office are sending a form and they can investigate on his behalf, he should be paid for his time.

TrikerAndBiker

Good luck Sturgeon, it doesnt matter how little or how much he is owed, he worked for his money and should be entitled to it.

krisskross

Had he been offered a job or was going and doing a few hours part of the selection process? Like to see if he liked it. Difficult really.

My daughter recently went for a job where part of the selection process was teaching a literacy and numeracy lesson. She knew she wouldn't be paid for any part of whole day the selection process took.

sturgeon62

Thanks for the comments. He thought he had the job. He was given a shirt for the following week and told his pay details would be dealt with on the monday. The woman who said he would only be paid if they took him on also interviewed him, she said he was told about the only being possibly paid at interview, he doesn't recall her saying that. ACAS said if he worked then he was entitled to be paid, probationary or not, and the friday night manager said he would be paid? He also worked 20 minutes longer and was asked if he could stay later still. That is very cheeky if they knew he might not be paid for it. Also it seems funny to take him on a friday night, possibly their busiest time, for training, which involved him assembling boxes for takeaway and then doing washing up.