Been working at Tesco a couple of weeks, but slightly perturbed

HendrikSavoo

I have been re-employed by Tesco for a few weeks now (used to work in another store, but left due to an injury sort of) and as usual in these situations you are taken on a temp-to-perm basis. 12 weeks probation or whatever you call it. I have no problem with that but a couple of things bug me;

1. They said in my induction that I am on 80% pay until my probation ends. I have not seen nor signed a contract, and I don't remember it being like that before. Why 80%? Is that even legal?
2. Although payday is due tomorrow, and I in need of cash, it has been revealed to me that because I joined half way through the month (March), I am not being paid this month and will have to wait for 6 weeks' worth of pay on May 1. Since when has this been policy? Why not just pay me 2 weeks up to now, for the work I have done? Always been like that, since when has the change come in?

I get the impression they have no interest in keeping all the temps on so they are just using me like slavery until the COVID19 pandemic slows down, then they won't need us anymore (btw, I have been taken on - apparently although no contract has been shown to me - as a potential permanent colleague, who applied online and went for interview/induction like normal - I AM NOT A TEMP JUST FOR COVID19!).

powerful_Rogue

HendrikSavoo said:

I have been re-employed by Tesco for a few weeks now (used to work in another store, but left due to an injury sort of) and as usual in these situations you are taken on a temp-to-perm basis. 12 weeks probation or whatever you call it. I have no problem with that but a couple of things bug me;

1. They said in my induction that I am on 80% pay until my probation ends. I have not seen nor signed a contract, and I don't remember it being like that before. Why 80%? Is that even legal?
2. Although payday is due tomorrow, and I in need of cash, it has been revealed to me that because I joined half way through the month (March), I am not being paid this month and will have to wait for 6 weeks' worth of pay on May 1. Since when has this been policy? Why not just pay me 2 weeks up to now, for the work I have done? Always been like that, since when has the change come in?

I get the impression they have no interest in keeping all the temps on so they are just using me like slavery until the COVID19 pandemic slows down, then they won't need us anymore (btw, I have been taken on - apparently although no contract has been shown to me - as a potential permanent colleague, who applied online and went for interview/induction like normal - I AM NOT A TEMP JUST FOR COVID19!).

1)Will you pay still be NMW or above for the probabtion?

2) Quite normal, i've had this with jobs in the past.

HendrikSavoo

powerful_Rogue said:

1)Will you pay still be NMW or above for the probabtion?

2) Quite normal, i've had this with jobs in the past.

What does NMW mean? 

powerful_Rogue

HendrikSavoo said:

powerful_Rogue said:

1)Will you pay still be NMW or above for the probabtion?

2) Quite normal, i've had this with jobs in the past.

What does NMW mean? 

National Minimum Wage

HendrikSavoo

powerful_Rogue said:

HendrikSavoo said:

powerful_Rogue said:

1)Will you pay still be NMW or above for the probabtion?

2) Quite normal, i've had this with jobs in the past.

What does NMW mean? 

National Minimum Wage

I don't think my pay will be £9.30 after probation. I can vaguely remember them telling me about £8.60 or something, and if atm I am earning 80% of that then I don't really know why I am risking it in the current climate lol

theoretica

It is very common for companies to have a cut off date and if you join too late in the month you get your pay in the next month's pay. It takes a lot to organise the payroll and make sure it is all paid correctly, and adding people at the last minute won't be possible. Doesn't sound like something they have invented recently or special for the current climate.

If you aren't sure what you are being paid could you ask someone who joined at the same time and might remember?

Brynsam

It's legal provided you are earning at least the National Living Wage (used to be known as the National Minimum Wage). Full info about the new rates which have just come into force: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52111634

Surely this is a question you should be asking Tesco, though? Didn't you know that would be the case at the time you joined?

Manxman_in_exile

I'd ask for an advance on my pay.  I understand Tesco are a reasonably large company(!) and this ought not to be beyond their payroll system.  It's not unusual.

General_Grant

HendrikSavoo said:

powerful_Rogue said:

HendrikSavoo said:

powerful_Rogue said:

1)Will you pay still be NMW or above for the probabtion?

2) Quite normal, i've had this with jobs in the past.

What does NMW mean? 

National Minimum Wage

I don't think my pay will be £9.30 after probation. I can vaguely remember them telling me about £8.60 or something, and if atm I am earning 80% of that then I don't really know why I am risking it in the current climate lol

Mentioning £9.30 after probation suggests that 80% would be £7.44 which would have been above National Living Wage for 21-24 yo last year and is above that for an 18-20 yo now.  You sound uncertain about what the circa £8.60 was for, whether it is what you are being paid when you re-joined, what you are being paid now or what you will be paid.  Do you not have a letter giving you any information about your pay or are you entirely dependent on what you have heard?