Retail employment rights advise

Dashiki

Hi,

I am employed in retail sector and my company whenever someone makes a mistake on a till and company looses money they make employees to pay back. It is not noted in any of our contracts and I wanted to know if it is actually legal to do so? Surely there should be some minimum sum that would be covered? Anyway, I have made a mistake of not seeing that card was declined and company missed out on £41.38, so they are demanding money back, but obviously I don't want to pay as I am leaving in 2 weeks from there anyway. Can I just refuse to pay?

agrinnall

It probably needs someone who know more about this than me to answer properly, but two things to think about and Google for more information are unlawful deduction from wages and pay not falling below NMW.

pawsies

Seems very unfair, the company I work for absorb the loss and don't blame us. But the poster above gave good advice.

Dashiki

thank you for your answers, however they are not deducting it from my wage, they are demanding the discrepancy to be paid in cash to cover the losses so I am not sure where even to check, I tried googling but there is information only on deducting money straight from wages. I haven't agreed to anything as I think it is unfair, especially when I know that few other people were forgiven from paying for even bigger sums.

saker75

I'm with the employer on this one. Having worked in retail this does seem fairly common and an effective means of encouraging accuracy.

However it was always in the terms and conditions of my contract.

Dashiki

that is the thing, it is not stated in my contract, so I want to know if it is legal to do so or not?

mariefab

See s.15 below:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/part/II

anamenottaken

With no contractual term to pay, don't.

If they were asking to be paid in cash for the full amount then they would actually be seeking more than their loss.