Unpaid Day Off, company charging 'admin fee'

KaylaSTARS

My husband has been with the same company for 8 years now but the firm has recently been sold. The new owner has drafted new contracts and is awaiting these to be signed and returned. For the most part, there is nothing I can do about the new clauses but he has added in a couple that I don't think are right.

Firstly if my husband wants to take a day off unpaid - which he would only do to help with the kids if I was sick or to take my daughter to Dr appts (she is autistic) he will now be charged a £20 admin fee to cover their costs of hiring an agency driver. This has never been mentioned in previous contracts and I believe as it is a major change we can object to it. Also, is it not his statutory right to take unpaid parental leave and not have to pay for the pleasure??

Secondly, if he has more than 5 days sick in a year he will be charged the admin fee once again. In the 8 years he has been there he has never taken more than 1 day off sick at a time and never more than 5 in a year but you never know. Should you have to pay an admin fee for being ill??

Any advice would be a help, thanks

kelly_borntoshop

KaylaSTARS wrote: »

Firstly if my husband wants to take a day off unpaid - which he would only do to help with the kids if I was sick or to take my daughter to Dr appts (she is autistic) he will now be charged a £20 admin fee to cover their costs of hiring an agency driver. This has never been mentioned in previous contracts and I believe as it is a major change we can object to it. Also, is it not his statutory right to take unpaid parental leave and not have to pay for the pleasure??

How old are the children?

Is your daughter registered as disabled?

ohreally

kelly_borntoshop wrote: »

Is your daughter registered as disabled?

What form does this registration take?

kelly_borntoshop

ohreally wrote: »

What form does this registration take?

Not sure of the form and appologies if that wording wasnt helpful but I am sure that in some cases parents get help with DLA?

Evilm

If he has a contract and is an employee then I believe these are unfair deductions and not allowed. They can refuse to give him unpaid leave and possibly discipline him for taking it but not charge him admin fees for it! Again they can't take a admin free for illness although they can discipline him for it.

If he was a contractor who bills them and is self employed it could possibly be allowed as it doesn't truly come under 'employee' rules. However it would have to be written into the contract and agreed. They could refuse to deal with him if he won't sign a contract with that in it and he has the same option with them.

spacey2012

There is no "register" of disabled people.

kelly_borntoshop

spacey2012 wrote: »

There is no "register" of disabled people.

ok, so sorry.

penrhyn

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2571.aspx

??

KaylaSTARS

My children are 15, 14, 12 and 9. By 'registered' disabled, I mean that she is in receipt of DLA so she is recognised as having a disability. It also means that parental leave for her lasts until she is 18 rather than 5 (I believe). His boss is adamant that he can make these changes to the contract and he can either sign or leave. It seems very unfair. I have emailed asking if we could perhaps compromise and only have a non-admin fee unpaid day if I can prove that the day is for parental leave and not simply a 'jolly'.

Evilm

If he is an employee then get a solictor to look over it - this sounds illegal.

kazzah60

OP
you need to check this out - I am sure this is illegal - this link should give you more information

http://www.cafamily.org.uk/know-your-rights/working/rights-in-work/