Not being paid for time worked - legal?

lovelouise

Well, I had a meeting with HR this morning which was pretty much pointless. I asked for a written copy of this policy and was again told that they couldn't provide this. They told me the reason why employees are not paid for less than half a shift is because it's "too difficult" for payroll to pay us in amounts of any less than half a shift. Not my problem! I then spoke to someone from ACAS who have advised that legally, I am entitled to be paid for any time worked at at least NMW. I went back to my manager after lunch to explain this, and she said that the time I'm owed back is at her discretion which she was refusing to allow. In all honesty, I was fuming by this point and in front of a whole floor full of colleagues, I did kick up a bit of a fuss. I was ushered into a side room, presumably so no one else caught wind of what I was complaining about.

Long story short, I walked out 10 mins later. Maybe not the wisest move reference-wise, but I've already worked my notice period and was doing them a favour by working longer. Why should I do that when they're not even honouring basic employment rights?

Have now written a strongly worded email to HR/Payroll detailing the hours I've worked unpaid and I expect these to be paid in my last payslip, along with any accrued holiday pay. Glad I'm out of there on Friday, but I still have friends who work there who are unable to fight for this because they'll be marked as troublemakers. Any advice on anything I can do further?

lovelouise

Never mind - just had a phone call from a colleague letting me know that they've just had a meeting and management have agreed that from now on, they'll get paid for what they've worked! So glad that I've managed to make that change, just wish they'd been a bit more reasonable and that it hadn't taken me storming out to make the change!

rach_k

Well done you!