Am I working for a dodgy business?

periperihot111

To start this off and make a long story short. I’ve been working for my shop for 3 years now. It’s a small business, and my boss rents the shop itself. I’ve worked here alone for 2/3 of these years and essentially run the shop myself (everything except sending off orders online). 

My manager/ boss no longer lives within the town and though they own the business. I’ve not seen them in over a year now. I’ve never found this shifty until recently. I have contact with their family that live locally who often lend a helping hand. But that’s not the point.  Also. Yes it’s nice to be trusted. But it makes it extremely difficult when it comes to talking about issues. I hate doing this over message, it doesn’t feel professional at all. And numerous times I’ve been left on “seen” and have had to keep sending messages about whatever topics brought up, just to get a clear answer. E.G request days off work. 

My issue now could be pretty serious and I’m extremely worried. Especially as I’ve been so naive since I began working here. And I’m panicking a lot, but don’t know how to bring this up to my manager. 

I wasn’t very mature when I started here and didn’t have the best common sense, so it was never an urgency, I just assumed small businesses didn’t offer this. 

But I’ve recently been doing a lot of research out of fear, and I’ve come to realisation I’ve never received a payslip?
The only thing I get is a payment each month. Which I’ve also made note of monthly and have also come to realise. I got paid for certain months of 2023 than I did in 2024, which surely isn’t right. When I didn’t have holiday in these months. And the pay would have gone up each April. 

The other thing I discovered is that my shop isn’t on companies house, which I assumed and thought was a legal requirement. No matter the nature of the business. 

I know I need to ring ACAS or HMRC. But I’m so scared I’m going to get reported or punished. Has anyone had a similar experience? How did you resolve it? Am I at fault or is it my management?
I also know I need to suck up the guys and get in touch with management. But I don’t want to be pointing the blame, then discover I’ve over reacted and it’s something that’s not ann actual issue. 
And yes. I am now looking for a new job before it’s too late. 

periperihot111

I forgot to mention, I checked HMRC PAYE and the last contribution registered is for my old job. 3/4 years ago..

DE_612183

sounds like the business is not paying you wages via a PAYE scheme - so effectively you are avoiding paying income tax and national insurance ( which will also affect your state pension in years to come ).

do you get paid Cash or Bank Transfer?

If I were you I'd contact the management and ask them about a contract - it could be that you are self-employed and don't know it?

Penguin_

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

DE_612183

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

Not sure if they do get one if classed as self-employed...contract is the key thing here.

Penguin_

DE_612183 said:

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

Not sure if they do get one if classed as self-employed...contract is the key thing here.

Yeah I see what you mean, however requesting time off seems to lean towards being an employee.

periperihot111

DE_612183 said:

sounds like the business is not paying you wages via a PAYE scheme - so effectively you are avoiding paying income tax and national insurance ( which will also affect your state pension in years to come ).

do you get paid Cash or Bank Transfer?

If I were you I'd contact the management and ask them about a contract - it could be that you are self-employed and don't know it?

Thank you, that’s what it seems like to me. Which is the opposite of what I want to hear doing. 

I get paid monthly by bank transfer. 

Different payments depending on how many days/ weeks are between each payday. 

I got a contract when I started, thankfully I’ve managed to find. But I can’t find anything on there about payslips either. 

periperihot111

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

If haha reassuring; thank you! Once less worry. 

I get paid at the end of each month, so it all varies how many days/ weeks fall between each payment. 

I work 36 hours a week, spread across the course of 6 days. And I’m over the 25 age bracket. So I should be receiving £11.44 an hour. 

But last year my pay varied from anything between £1080 and £1400. Which is a huge jump. 

Previous year it was variations between £1070 and £1500. 

Thank you for your help!

periperihot111

periperihot111 said:

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

If haha reassuring; thank you! Once less worry. 

I get paid at the end of each month, so it all varies how many days/ weeks fall between each payment. 

I work 36 hours a week, spread across the course of 6 days. And I’m over the 25 age bracket. So I should be receiving £11.44 an hour. 

But last year my pay varied from anything between £1080 and £1400. Which is a huge jump. 

Previous year it was variations between £1070 and £1500. 

Thank you for your help!

My typos are dreadful sorry; that should have said “thats reassuring thank you”

DE_612183

What does your contract say about hourly rate, holidays ect.

You need to ask for payslip or if you are self-employed

Dazed_and_C0nfused

periperihot111 said:

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

Penguin_ said:

A business doesn't have to be registered with Companies House so that's one thing you can take your mind off.

You should be receiving a payslip for each payment you get. You say you get a payment, but how much is this payment & how may hours are you working in the period that the payment represents?

If haha reassuring; thank you! Once less worry. 

I get paid at the end of each month, so it all varies how many days/ weeks fall between each payment. 

I work 36 hours a week, spread across the course of 6 days. And I’m over the 25 age bracket. So I should be receiving £11.44 an hour. 

But last year my pay varied from anything between £1080 and £1400. Which is a huge jump. 

Previous year it was variations between £1070 and £1500. 

Thank you for your help!

If you are employed (which seems to be the case) and earning above £123/week then there should be a PAYE scheme in place and your earnings reported to HMRC.

It is the combination of earning above £123/week the the reporting to HMRC which gives you qualifying years for State Pension (and other benefit) purposes.