Started a new job

marcjacob

Im a newbie here, so bare with me. Am in need of some good advice

Have started a new job working in a shop, I was employed pretty much the next day. After a quick discussion with the boss he agreed to pay me £30 a day @ 6 days a week = £180, it didn't seem a bad wage, compared to my last job.

Although this means i work a 48 hour week, and this works out than less than the minumum wage, that doesn't worry me either, it's still more per month (btw i'm mid 30's)

My worry is this. Coming up to xmas, the shop will be closed for 10 days, which i guess i won't be paid.

Im sure that all employers are supposed to issue a payslip in some respect, and all employers are supposed to pay a minimum wage ?? My difficulty is how to approach the subject of holiday pay, National insurance and all the other relevant benefits, without upsetting my employer or putting my job at risk.

The shop has 3 other employees working on the same basis of a set amount per day, and been there alot longer than I have, and obvisouly dont seem to have a problem.

Some advice is quickly needed. Its my ideal job. Something i really enjoy doing and not very difficult either. Just having a bit of job security would be good and holiday pay too.

If you'd like to help then please feel free

:beer:

Merry Xmas.

wii_man1

what job is worth doing for £3.75 an hour

cummings73

Firstly....wii_man1, you dont know marcjacob's reasons and/or circumstances for taking/continuing with the job, and im sure your negativity isnt a help....offer constructive advice or maybe dont offer at all.

marcjacob.........do you feel comfortable enough with your colleagues and able to place your trust in them to ask them the questions that you need answering?
If so could be a good place to start, alternatively approach your employer, but before you raise the questions you feel need answering, stress to your employer how much you enjoy the job, how happy you are etc....." I was just wondering what the situation is with....etc...."

alternatively seek proffesional advice, but im sure you know already what they are going to say to you!!

anyway good luck and i hope it all works out for you!!

marcjacob

You are right! but it's more job satisfaction and something i've enjoyed doing as a hobby for a longtime and now getting paid to do. which is more than can be said for the major supermarket I used to work for previously.

Still my new employer did mention when i started if I wanted to go 'on the books' then I could, but i really dont think he could afford to pay me £5+ an hour for 48 hours. lol. I need to approach the subject in way so I get paid for my holidays but alsodont risk having my wage cut or loosing my job either.

marcjacob

cummings73 wrote: »

Firstly....wii_man1, you dont know marcjacob's reasons and/or circumstances for taking/continuing with the job, and im sure your negativity isnt a help....offer constructive advice or maybe dont offer at all.

marcjacob.........do you feel comfortable enough with your colleagues and able to place your trust in them to ask them the questions that you need answering?
If so could be a good place to start, alternatively approach your employer, but before you raise the questions you feel need answering, stress to your employer how much you enjoy the job, how happy you are etc....." I was just wondering what the situation is with....etc...."

alternatively seek proffesional advice, but im sure you know already what they are going to say to you!!

anyway good luck and i hope it all works out for you!!

Thanks for your positive feedback.

My other colleagues i work with are mostly part-time, I'm the only full time employee, so Im fairly sure each circumstance will be different. I think my employer already realises how much i enjoy my work and he also realises how much of an asset i am to his company. But on the other hand he has a very relaxed attitude towards the running of the business, which im sure if I asked about wage slips, NI and holidays, would become a whole new ball game.

geordie_joe

If he can't afford to pay you £5 per hour when you work he can't afford to pay you when you don't.

I think you are in a situation where you have to "like it or lump it". You could demand your rights, or even ask nicely for them, or even report him for paying less than the minimum wage and not having you "on the books".

But if you do that you'll not have a job.

Apart from that most employers only pay the holiday pay you have earned. Something like a day and a half for each month you have worked for them. As you have just started you would not get holiday pay anyway. Unless your employer want to take the chance of paying you ten days holiday pay in advance, and run the risk of you not coming back after the holidays.

I think that if you want to keep the job you will have to accept you will not get paid for the days you don't work.

You could try to find out if the other employees are "on the books". If they are then you could try, but if they aren't it's a safe bet your employer offers it then gets rid of those who take it.

Why pay £5 per hour and holiday pay etc. when you an get people to work for £3.75 per hour with no holiday pay?

misha06

marcjacob wrote: »

Still my new employer did mention when i started if I wanted to go 'on the books' then I could, but i really dont think he could afford to pay me £5+ an hour for 48 hours.

That sounds a bit suspicious? It sounds like he is avoiding paying NI contributions. Paying people cash in hand without going through the books is not strictly legal.

liz105

Im sorry but your boss is flouting the law. If he is not paying NI (for you or anyone else for that matter) it will fall back on you when you lose out on pension etc in a few years. Also, it may end in you not paying your taxes in the eyes of the law, so you will get in trouble too.

this is slave labour and I wouldnt stand for it. if this is a 'hobby' type of work for you why dont you set up on your own, you'd be better of I reckon.

Zazen999

Hi.

I am not surprised that you started work the next day, seems to be a good deal on behalf of your employer. He isn't paying any NI contributions and I guess that deep down you know it is wrong. Unfortunately, even if you don't pay tax [ie you earn less that the basic rate], you should still have a payslip and tax code, just to prove it.

Under employment law; it is your right to have a payslip, to have NI contributions paid for you, to have a certain amount of holiday etc etc. The government, for all their flaws; have made it law to protect people, not the employers.
So, my guess is that if you want the holidays; get a job where you have a contract, get a payslip, and they tick all the boxes for the additional benefits that having a job 'on the books' represents. If not, then stay and take what you get, or make yourself so invaluable that you get a promotion or get put on the books to try and keep you.

Alternatively, negotiate that you invoice for your work; and you pay the NI; declare yourself self-employed and complete the self assessment each year. Note that £180 per week means about £8640 per year [at 48 weeks], which takes you above the basic rate; so not being on the books means that you could be in trouble with the taxman for not paying tax; you need to take this into consideration when you decide what to do.

Also note; I have found that businesses that flout one law will flout others; including insurance, their own tax payments, will sack you at a moment's notice, all the individuals who just want to get a decent income/have a decent job end up worse off in the end; for example, if you had an accident; is there an accident book to record it, and without proof of employment would he just say you were in the shop and not an employee; and is there any insurance at all to cover you all???

Having a relaxed attitude is no excuse in my opinion; but everyone makes their own choices in life.

I hope it goes well, and you make the right decision for yourself in the end.