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I suspect daughter has been used for free labour
lalamb
Posts: 1,893 Forumite
Hi, I'm looking for some advice regarding a job my daughter recently started and has since been "let go"
I apologise in advance if this is a bit long winded.
My 17yr old daughter recently started work at a takeaway restaurant. She is still at school and just wanted to earn a few quid each week because she wants to start driving lessons, so I was fully supportive of her when she decided to get a part time job.
Literally from the word go I was suspicious of her employer.
When he interviewed her he told her that she would not be paid for her induction night 4.5hours, also, she would not be paid for her training nights until she left. I looked into both these issues and it seems this is legit, probably not common practice everywhere for a part time job but still legit. He also told her during the interview that if she ever phones in sick he will come round to check to make sure she is telling the truth so she better not phone in sick unless she is really ill......I know he probably doesn't do that but it's not right to say this to young girls and intimidate them this way. I was a bit taken aback when she told me but I didn't want to tell her I thought he was dodgy because she was chuffed she got the job.
The pay sounded pretty decent.
£15 for half a shift which consisted of 3 hours
£30 for a full shift which consisted of 7.5 hours but this rises to £37 after 3 months. I didn't get that bit but it was all above minimum wage so no really worries there.
She worked(or "trained" should I say) 5 shifts x 4.5 hours from the 18th - 22nd June, her induction night was supposed to be observing an other girl, she observed for about half an hour and then was doing everything the other girl was doing......this is no longer an induction right, because she is now providing the business with service? The guy who owns the place wasn't there on a few nights and his son accidentally paid her for a couple of shifts. She was sent home early one night because it was quiet and was paid £10, and she got £15 for another shift she did. She completed her training on the 22nd and he told her he would sort out a contract the following week. He said she would probably be in Wed 27th, he would email her Mon 25th with her hours. She heard nothing as of Wed 27th lunchtime so she contacted him to ask via email. He told her to come in on Friday 29th at half four until nine and he was hoping to finish off her training then :eek: she replied and said she thought she had finished her training, he said no there are a few other things that she needs training up on. :eek: Naturally alarm bells went off in my head, and I told her to ask him if she was getting paid for this shift, he didn't reply, so she asked him again and he said "what is wrong with you, yes you will get paid"! I told her she will probably not be kept on. I was right. He took her into the office at the end of her shift last night and said, "you would be a fantastic worker for other takeaway places but you aren't for us, it's with regret that I have to let you go".......he thinks he's Sir Alan Sugar, yeah right!
He sent her on her way without her meal, and gave her £30 for 2 shifts from last week and £10 for last night, which works out at £2.20 per hour, well below minimum wage
In total she has worked 27 hours, and been paid £65
One of the things that really concerns me is he has 2 trainees that seem to be starting every couple of weeks. 2 girls started the week before my daughter got the job but he let them go. He let another girl go this week and let my daughter go last night. He has 2 new "trainees" this week. He has a sign outside his shop on a permanent basis advertising for staff.
It is a nice little independent pizza takeaway, probably the best we've ever had, they have an excellent reputation for being one of the best in the country they've won awards etc so I was quite shocked to see them behave like this.
Is there anything I can do? I am composing an email to him now, requesting he pays her for last weeks shift and the correct amount he should have paid her last night. I know that she doesn't have a leg to stand on, no contract etc but I hate seeing young people being used like this. There must be something that can be done?
I apologise in advance if this is a bit long winded.
My 17yr old daughter recently started work at a takeaway restaurant. She is still at school and just wanted to earn a few quid each week because she wants to start driving lessons, so I was fully supportive of her when she decided to get a part time job.
Literally from the word go I was suspicious of her employer.
When he interviewed her he told her that she would not be paid for her induction night 4.5hours, also, she would not be paid for her training nights until she left. I looked into both these issues and it seems this is legit, probably not common practice everywhere for a part time job but still legit. He also told her during the interview that if she ever phones in sick he will come round to check to make sure she is telling the truth so she better not phone in sick unless she is really ill......I know he probably doesn't do that but it's not right to say this to young girls and intimidate them this way. I was a bit taken aback when she told me but I didn't want to tell her I thought he was dodgy because she was chuffed she got the job.
The pay sounded pretty decent.
£15 for half a shift which consisted of 3 hours
£30 for a full shift which consisted of 7.5 hours but this rises to £37 after 3 months. I didn't get that bit but it was all above minimum wage so no really worries there.
She worked(or "trained" should I say) 5 shifts x 4.5 hours from the 18th - 22nd June, her induction night was supposed to be observing an other girl, she observed for about half an hour and then was doing everything the other girl was doing......this is no longer an induction right, because she is now providing the business with service? The guy who owns the place wasn't there on a few nights and his son accidentally paid her for a couple of shifts. She was sent home early one night because it was quiet and was paid £10, and she got £15 for another shift she did. She completed her training on the 22nd and he told her he would sort out a contract the following week. He said she would probably be in Wed 27th, he would email her Mon 25th with her hours. She heard nothing as of Wed 27th lunchtime so she contacted him to ask via email. He told her to come in on Friday 29th at half four until nine and he was hoping to finish off her training then :eek: she replied and said she thought she had finished her training, he said no there are a few other things that she needs training up on. :eek: Naturally alarm bells went off in my head, and I told her to ask him if she was getting paid for this shift, he didn't reply, so she asked him again and he said "what is wrong with you, yes you will get paid"! I told her she will probably not be kept on. I was right. He took her into the office at the end of her shift last night and said, "you would be a fantastic worker for other takeaway places but you aren't for us, it's with regret that I have to let you go".......he thinks he's Sir Alan Sugar, yeah right!
He sent her on her way without her meal, and gave her £30 for 2 shifts from last week and £10 for last night, which works out at £2.20 per hour, well below minimum wageIn total she has worked 27 hours, and been paid £65
One of the things that really concerns me is he has 2 trainees that seem to be starting every couple of weeks. 2 girls started the week before my daughter got the job but he let them go. He let another girl go this week and let my daughter go last night. He has 2 new "trainees" this week. He has a sign outside his shop on a permanent basis advertising for staff.
It is a nice little independent pizza takeaway, probably the best we've ever had, they have an excellent reputation for being one of the best in the country they've won awards etc so I was quite shocked to see them behave like this.
Is there anything I can do? I am composing an email to him now, requesting he pays her for last weeks shift and the correct amount he should have paid her last night. I know that she doesn't have a leg to stand on, no contract etc but I hate seeing young people being used like this. There must be something that can be done?
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Comments
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No it's not legit. and it sounds like he is getting in cheap labour. Ask your daughter what special training she received, after basic hygiene what is so special about the job that as an evening extra pair of hands, she needed so much of it?
I wouldn't bother email or writing, if he does treat people this way and does have a permanent "vacancy" he will be well accustomed to ignoring these things. Either personal confrontation explaining how you will use net reviews and the local press, or put it down to experience and don't give custom to cash businesses like this.0 -
If you don't get the response you want, go to CAB. Do everything in writing. Keep all the emails. Possibly if he does not agree threaten him with going to the local press about him exploiting the young. Personally I like what the Socialist Workers party do - there was a case of an agency not paying a worker, he contacted the SWP and they protested outside the offices for him. They sharp paid up.0
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I'd just write a letter and hand deliver it to him or post registered mail saying he has 7 days to pay her or you are going to the local paper!0
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Thanks for the replies
I'm not so much bothered about the money he owes her, it's the taking advantage that bothers me the most. How many people do they do this to, and get away with it...
I've sent him an emailed to express my concerns.
She received no food and hygiene training
She received no health, safety or fire training
She had to guess when the chicken was ready and when the fries were ready, that's quite shocking really!0 -
Report him to the council then. Health and Safety deptThanks for the replies
I'm not so much bothered about the money he owes her, it's the taking advantage that bothers me the most. How many people do they do this to, and get away with it...
I've sent him an emailed to express my concerns.
She received no food and hygiene training
She received no health, safety or fire training
She had to guess when the chicken was ready and when the fries were ready, that's quite shocking really!
He will get an exspection and maybe get the fire brigage to pop round! 0 -
Another thing I forgot to mention, is he allowed to pay his employees cash in hand?0
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MissSarah1972 wrote: »Depends what they are earning - was there any NI and tax taken?
No, she wasn't earning enough. I just wasn't sure as an employer if he has to put everything through the books.0 -
I think its £107 before NI and £156 ish before TAX so assuming she wasn't paid that then I think he can pay her cash but I suspect he may pay everyone that way? Did she sign a P46 when she started?No, she wasn't earning enough. I just wasn't sure as an employer if he has to put everything through the books.0 -
Cash payments for wages are not common these days, but are fine if there is a payslip. Your daughter is legally entitled to a payslip.
You could always report this 'employer' to the authorities for not paying NMW:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/employees/thenationalminimumwage/dg_1751120
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