Being sent home early, not paid for full shift

borderline

Hi,

I work in retail as a cashier, sometimes in the evenings if it is quiet one of the cashiers is sent home about an hour early. We get paid hourly so we won’t get paid for that lost hour...
My contract says I’m required to work 40 hours a week. Also the contract says in order to meet the needs of the business work schedules and days off may fluctuate depending upon anticipated sales , departmental needs and staffing for the department.
based on all that , can they still not pay me for that hour?
I know is not much but when you are counting every penny your earn , it matters.

thanks !

Southend1

borderline wrote: »

Hi,

I work in retail as a cashier, sometimes in the evenings if it is quiet one of the cashiers is sent home about an hour early. We get paid hourly so we won’t get paid for that lost hour...
My contract says I’m required to work 40 hours a week. Also the contract says in order to meet the needs of the business work schedules and days off may fluctuate depending upon anticipated sales , departmental needs and staffing for the department.
based on all that , can they still not pay me for that hour?
I know is not much but when you are counting every penny your earn , it matters.

thanks !

It depends on the exact wording of your contract. If you are contracted to work 40 hours per week that's what you should be paid for, even if the employer doesn't provide 40 hours of work. However the flexibility clause you make reference to may have a bearing on this.

Speak to your union rep for advice on your specific case (assuming you are a member???).

agrinnall

I think that if they won't pay you for that hour then you should be offered the opportunity to work an extra hour on another day - although that only works if they are open for more hours than you are contracted to work.

Tyler_Du

Id also check whether the drop in pay brings you under the minimum wage level.

lincroft1710

Tyler_Durden_UK wrote: »

Id also check whether the drop in pay brings you under the minimum wage level.

Isn't the minimum wage an hourly amount, rather than weekly?

agrinnall

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Isn't the minimum wage an hourly amount, rather than weekly?

Yes, but the OP should be paid for their contracted hours, so if the amount paid when divided by 40 is less than NMW then the employer potentially has a problem.

GothicStirling

Where you asked if you wanted to go home, or told 'go home'?

borderline

GothicStirling wrote: »

Where you asked if you wanted to go home, or told 'go home'?

the manager asks the supervisor to tell me I can go home.

borderline

agrinnall wrote: »

Yes, but the OP should be paid for their contracted hours, so if the amount paid when divided by 40 is less than NMW then the employer potentially has a problem.

the thing is, I only get paid for the hours I clock in... so if I clock out an hour or half an hour earlier I won’t get paid for those. It won’t take me below minimum wage but still they should respect my hours the same way from my part I respect the hours I’m contracted to work

wiogs

borderline wrote: »

the manager asks the supervisor to tell me I can go home.

But does than mean that you can also stay if you wish?

[Deleted User]

agrinnall wrote: »

so if the amount paid when divided by 40 is less than NMW then the employer potentially has a problem.

Do you mind telling folks who they should report employers underpaying (if such is the case) to? - it would help enormously I think