Can they do this?

astonsmummy

Hi
I have been working as a domicillary carer with a company since sept 2006, i had to break from it for a couple of months due to childcare problems and have been back 4 weeks, during which time they have been giving me and average of 5 hours a week work when i needed 16.
Last week i got annoyed so on tuesday phoned up and resigned.
I told them from that day i am not working anymore.
I have received my payslip and wages today and it's minus about £60, i phoned them and they said they are keeping the money until i give them back the uniform etc, now why they couldnt of told me this before i dont know, they had 4 days to do this.
The woman was really rude and told me that i should of given 1 weeks notice, i havent even been given a contraact yet so i didnt even know how much notice i would of had to give.
She also said that because i was supposed to be working wednesday and they didnt know i wouldnt be (even though i phoned on tues to tell them from that day i wasnt working anymore) that she is going to reprt me to POVA (protection of vunerable adults)
Basically can they do all this?

I am going to take my uniform back tommorrow but i wanted to know if i can say i want a cheque for moneys owed on recepit of my uniform and badge?

Any advice is gratefully received thnx.

shameless-about-money

You should have had a contract of employment as soon as you were employed by them! It is contrary to employment law for them NOT to have done this.

I wouldn't worry about POVA since it sounds like a threat.

When you take your uniform back you can demand the withheld funds there and then, that is what you are entitled to.

astonsmummy

shameless-about-money wrote: »

You should have had a contract of employment as soon as you were employed by them! It is contrary to employment law for them NOT to have done this.

I wouldn't worry about POVA since it sounds like a threat.

When you take your uniform back you can demand the withheld funds there and then, that is what you are entitled to.

Thanx, i didnt think they would be able to report me to POVA, but i just got worried as i have secured myself a really good job with another company and dont want thigns to fall through.
What if i demand the money and they say no, what could i say to them as i dont want to be fobbed off, or would it be best to warn them i'll be expecting the money?

shameless-about-money

It might be a good idea to phone them and tell them you are bringing your uniform, etc, in on such a date and that you want your £60 immediately on exchange.

LittleVoice

Have they illegally withheld pay? Does the written information you have from them on your terms and conditions of employment include the right for them to make deductions from your pay for this type of thing? If not, they have acted illegally.

(I realise that you say you haven't received a contract and I assume that you mean you don't have anything in writing - but you do have a contract though it is not a written one. I am guessing that this is considered to be a new contract and not linked to the 2006 start - but I thought you might have written T&C from your 2006 start.)

studentphil

Can I just ask, who is going to want a second hand uniform?

I am not saying you are mucky or anything Astonsmummy as I know you are lovely!!

But I just can not see their new employee wanting a second hand uniform.

It is fairly petty to withhold 60 quid for a uniform they will probably never use again!!!

Best thing to do is take the uniform back and ask for 60 quid in cash when you hand it over.

Oldernotwiser

It is usual to give a week's notice for most employment of this type and it would have been reasonable for you to feel some responsibility for the elderly or disabled people you were letting down by going off in a huff. I know that you have rights but you have responsibilities as well. Having said that, I hope you get your money back.
Phil, I think that most uniforms are used again. Think of the cost to a company if they had to throw uniforms away every time people left!

studentphil

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It is usual to give a week's notice for most employment of this type and it would have been reasonable for you to feel some responsibility for the elderly or disabled people you were letting down by going off in a huff. I know that you have rights but you have responsibilities as well. Having said that, I hope you get your money back.
Phil, I think that most uniforms are used again. Think of the cost to a company if they had to throw uniforms away every time people left!

Clothes are a very personal thing and just somehow I do not like the idea of wearing what has been against someonelse's personal areas.

LittleVoice

You may not do it, but there are even people who buy clothes from charity/second-hand shops.

Thinking about it, my clothes are placed on items of furniture that other people have sat on, should I never want to wear them again?!!!! ;-)

Actually this line (about wearing pre-used clothes) should be taking place in the Money Savers Arms shouldn't it.

studentphil

LittleVoice wrote: »

You may not do it, but there are even people who buy clothes from charity/second-hand shops.

Thinking about it, my clothes are placed on items of furniture that other people have sat on, should I never want to wear them again?!!!! ;-)

You know what I mean shirts have been on someone else's arm pits that sort of thing.

LittleVoice

Haven't you heard about washing machines and dry cleaning?