Daughter's pay reduced without consultation

A question about : Daughter's pay reduced without consultation

My 17 year old daughter is at school she does some casual work as needed for a local business where my wife works; stuffing envelopes, photocopying, filing -- basically the monotonous stuff that the full timers avoid.

She was paid Ј5 an hour but was surprised to find her last pay packet short. She questioned it and was told she was now being paid minimum wage = Ј3.68 per hour. Surely employer should have told her before she did the work that the rate of pay was changing. She says she would not have done the work (odd hour here and there) had she known.

The amount involved is not great but she is very upset and feels very badly treated by the employer to the extent she will probably not work there again. Can she reasonably expect to be paid the agreed rate (Ј5 ph) for the work she did rather than the subsequent lower rate the employer applied retrospectively?

I dislike seeing those in a position of power treating others badly and will write to the employer if daughter's view is right that she should be paid original rate.

Best answers:

• Are you sure that they weren't paying NMW before but at the wrong rate? 18-21 is Ј4.98
• Please let your daughter deal with it.
  She is 17 not 7 and nearly an adult.
  I understand what you are saying, and I beg to differ, it is a big deal to a 17 year old, its over Ј1 and hour less so I can understand how upset she is.
  Tell her to go back to her employer and tell them that she is not happy with the arrangement and see what they say. If they dont back down, she can then tell them she wont be going again if she still feels the same.
• Hi Mugwump,
  No they were paying Ј5 an hour for the job regardless of whether those doing it were 16, 17 or 18. It wasn't a mistake it was a settled policy, presumably to get some kids to do the work no one else would touch.
  McKneff,
  I know how old my daughter is. Thank you. If I get involved it will because I think the employer has behaved in this way because they think they can get away with treating kids badly and I would want them to understand that they need to behave with respect towards everyone they employ. I was asking for the legal position from the CAB. The Directgov site does not seem to cover it.
• My opinion is that it is a bit shabby of them to change the rate after the event, for work already done.
• What does her contract say? Although if she's previously been paid at 5 pounds per hour then they can't just suddenly change it to minimum wage (and certainly not AFTER the works been carried out). I'd get her to write a strong letter as that sounds clearly unreasonable.
  df
• Dancingfairy,
  It is casual work and she has no contract.
• hmmm. I've just reread the bit about the business being your wifes employer. I guess you all need to sit down as a family and decide how far to push things. Unless there was a reason why your daughter suddenly got less money (ie going from unsociable hours to sociable hours or a different task) then yes it sounds like it was wrong. I don't know legally but I would write a letter before action and then risk spending 40 ish pounds to take them to court from a moral standpoint. This however would ignore the fact that your wife works there. I think probably you'll need to have a word with your daughter and explain that you think she's right and that you would want her to fight it
  but that you can't risk upsetting the apple cart with regards to your wife's employment.
  A horrid situation though and I wish your family well however you decide to proceed.
  df
• Situation resolved: wife had word with those involved who grudgingly acknowledged they had acted wrongly, called it "a misunderstanding" and reinstated the original rate.
• Daughter has already decided she won't work there again. Wife knows how to look after herself. Despite what some people say or think, employees do still have some rights if they are prepared to exercise them and employers do still have some responsibilities which they can be held to by those prepared to stand up for themselves.
  (Text removed by MSE Forum Team)
• Your wife's company set a marvellous example to your daughter. Misunderstanding my backside !!!!!!
  I am pleased your daughter got her money.
  They must be a lovely company to do business with..................