Missed business trip, being made to pay replacement flights

nodiscount

But u will add to that. I think your friend did not leave enough time. 20 mins before is nothing. What if he got stuck in traffic?
Can he negotiate a repayment rate? Or negotiate to pay half or something?

jonaboot

Thanks for your responses everyone this is really useful ! I'll pass this on to him.


The flight was due to depart at 5am from Liverpool so traffic isn't generally too much of a problem at that time (I probably should have mentioned that originally, giving yourself just 20 minutes at rush hour wouldn't be the best idea...)

Acc72

specialboy wrote: »

His employer CAN'T deduct his wages if it takes him below the minimum wage and I'm fairly sure they can't deduct anyway unless they have a signed agreement saying that he would cough up.

Ok, let's be honest - the employer physically can deduct whatever they want from the wages - whether this is a "lawful deduction" after the event is another matter.


Even if they shouldn't does not mean that they can't.


As another ex member of this site used to say "they can, because they have".

This then opens up a whole legal can of worms - better to try to resolve any issue before anything happens / any deductions are made etc.

quietriot

nodiscount wrote: »

If you sacked for asserting a statutory right (like the right not to have unauthorised deductions from your wages), then you do not need 2 years to claim unfair dismissal.

This is true, but you can be absolutely certain that it's not the reason that will be given for dismissal.

sniggings

quietriot wrote: »

This is true, but you can be absolutely certain that it's not the reason that will be given for dismissal.

so?

what is reasonable to surmise from the facts would be what any court would base it's ruling on, not what the employer says.

tomtontom

sniggings wrote: »

so?

what is reasonable to surmise from the facts would be what any court would base it's ruling on, not what the employer says.

The employee could be summarily dismissed for the initial act - leaving such a short time to make the flight is neglectful, has cost the employer money and could well have caused an issue with their client in NI.

k3lvc

jonaboot wrote: »

Thanks for your responses everyone this is really useful ! I'll pass this on to him.


The flight was due to depart at 5am from Liverpool so traffic isn't generally too much of a problem at that time (I probably should have mentioned that originally, giving yourself just 20 minutes at rush hour wouldn't be the best idea...)

I'm a year or so out of touch with LPL but queues can happen at the strangest times - particularly early am when the first wave of lo-cost flights leaves

I've had this happen a few times but then I do 100+ flights a year for last 10 years and I work for a large multinational using a good Corporate Travel provider. Learnings are

a) some negotiation will often get the taxes/fees back (and depending on the flight that can be 80% of the cost) - easier if a mainstream airline and you've used corporate agency to book it

b) Flights can be changed - obviously doesn't help if meeting was time critical but it's not always the cost of a new ticket

c) Any boss who's working their staff till midnight then expecting them to be on a 5am flight needs a serious face to face discussion (recognising the lack of employee power if less than 2yrs service)

My experience has had no negatives - a quick apology and keep my head down for a few weeks, eating cheaper dinners, taking cheaper flights, unsing cheaper hotels etc to show I'm eating some humble pie

sniggings

tomtontom wrote: »

The employee could be summarily dismissed for the initial act - leaving such a short time to make the flight is neglectful, has cost the employer money and could well have caused an issue with their client in NI.

I was addressing a different point...that courts don't just take for granted what the employer tells them but all the facts.

getmore4less

5am flights not on a regular basis go the night before .

Min wage hope they are paying the time from leaving home.

mgdavid

Absolutely outrageous situation for the employee to be put in, and totally unreasonable and unacceptable.
No they cannot legally deduct the flight cost from wages.
No they cannot make him work til midnight if already on minimum wage - unless paying overtime for all extra time.
1. polish the CV and start looking for a better job.
2. talk to ACAS
3. request a meeting with Personnel / HR and the manager concerned, get somebody with him to take notes.
3. read up on Constructive dismissal, he may need the knowledge.