Working in restaurant, bring own float?

Veawen

Hi,

I am hoping someone is able to help me with this. I have recently started to work in a well known restaurant and yesterday been 'told off' for not bringing in my own float to work. As I am still awaiting my first payment I don't have a lot of money lying around.

When I search on google about monetary floats I get pinpointed in lots of different directions, are there any legal websites out there who explain the float? I always thought that was provided by the company not the employee?

I'm really confused, my pay isn't that high either and my only cash I got now is from a few tips. But as I need to pay tax on those, should I use my tips as a float?

My head is spinning! Thanks in advance

marlot

First place to look is your contract - what do they expect you to have as a float?

CKhalvashi

It's going to depend entirely on your contract.

My staff end up paying for fuel and parking, then get reimbursed at the end of the month, and there's something similar on many peoples contracts, in a variety of industries.

CK

paddyrg

I have never heard of waiting staff having to provide a float before, either this is really odd or I am misunderstanding! It is usual art the start of the shift to receive and count out the till float from the office, and return it with your takings at the end of the shift. I cannot see why any business in any kind of financial state could not loan £50 of change for a few hours so their customers could pay in cash. Should you also bring meat, veg and eggs each shift too lend to the kitchen, or does the chef have too provide his own float of cabbages?

Legally must they provide it? Well it does sound like a serious enough condition to be in your contract, otherwise sometimes has made the rule up. Personally I'd be looking for a job where they would trust you with a few quid in order too be able to do your job. This way the customer will always suffer, it is just odd.

colino

An absolute cowboy way of operation, look for a new job now! Multiply the number of waiting staff, f/t and p/t by the expected size of the float and that is the amount "employees" are covering the cashflow of that business.

scooby088

I'd have thought as a business a restaurant has it's own money as float as many other business's do like shops. OP I would suggest you get out as it shouldn't cost you anything to be in work apart from the usual expenses like travel and the like.

Veawen

Thank you all for your reply's. I have checked my contract this morning and I can't find anywhere about any float.
Yesterday I brought in 69p as that was all the change I got and all I heard was that I should bring in my own float tomorrow!

As I have to jump to work in a minute for a double shift, I have scrambled some more change around and I will ask if the manager can explain to me why I should bring in my own float. I just don't understand and I want clarification.

My probation period is 13 weeks, so I may just hang in just after Christmas and start to have a look around again for something else. I indeed don't feel trusted with money and it sounds so odd to me that I have to use my tips. I can't just AND use my tips for float AND pay tax on cash tips.. That's just robbing me. As they are part of a massive chain I assume they would have plenty.

I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the advice.

SarEl

I don't agree with it, but it's not unlawful, and actually there's a sneaking amount of admiration for the fact that I can see exactly why they do it and it is deeply crafty!

Think about it. They provide the float. At the end of the day, if the bills and the float don't tally, then they have to start with the whole "deductions from wages" things etc., and if the wages are as low as I suspect they are, then that could prove difficult to do anyway. This way, you hand over to the employer the bills money - exactly. If your float happens to be short at the end of the night it's your problem - no deductions, no arguments, you have to be more careful.

I don't like it, as I said, but it's a stunning example of sneaky thinking!

Hmm71

Veawen, good luck finding a new job, I hope you can get a decent one very soon. My hubby has worked in catering and bar work at various times over the years and he said he's never worked anywhere that expected you to bring your own float.
He thinks it sounds very dodgy, especially for a big chain. He wonders whether each restaurant is a franchise and the owner/manager of this one is up to something shady.
I know you're probably stuck there for now but try to get out as soon as you can, good luck.

LannieDuck

Veawen wrote: »

I can't just AND use my tips for float AND pay tax on cash tips.. That's just robbing me. As they are part of a massive chain I assume they would have plenty.

I can see that it's annoying if you don't have the spare cash, but I assume you get your float back at the end of the shift? So it's not really robbing you.

Takeaway_Addict

at least it makes staff be more aware of the change they give away!