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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel rage about what my friends employer is doing to her?

46 replies

MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:22

She's a lone parent...in her 20s and works at an expensive private nursery part time. She does two days regularly and the nursery charge her for her DDs time there (in a different room to the one in which my friend works)

Anyway...she told me a few weeks ago that the manager offered her another day off the books and free care for DD that day...for...the grand sum of TWENTY QUID cash in hand.

Angry

AIBU to feel such rage?

This employer is taking the piss in the worst possible way.

She knows that twenty pounds is a lot to my friend...and she took the offer.

So she's working for 8 hours a day for £2.50 an hour!??

I think my friend regrets it now. She says she's getting the extra money at the end of the month...so it will feel like it was worth it as to her that's an extra 80 quid or whatever...but still...is this as wrong as I think it is? Exploitation?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 28/01/2015 23:24

How much would the childcare have cost if it wasn't free that day?

Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:26

I'm not entirely sure but don't see how that's relevant?

OP posts:
DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 28/01/2015 23:27

Vile Exploitation, I agree.

I've been there though, a lone parent desperate for extra cash working all hours at a sales job with no basic pay. Business owner driving a big fancy car, swanning into office once a week, expecting a coffee in his hand within seconds of arriving. Not giving a shit if pay cheques were a week, or two, late...

Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:27

I just checked. It would be £41 for a day.

OP posts:
ACSlater · 28/01/2015 23:27

It's relevant because if she paid her in full your friend would then have to pay in full.

Snapespotions · 28/01/2015 23:27

Yes, how much would the childcare have cost?

The cash in hand thing is dodgy. Presumably the point was to avoid tax?

wowfudge · 28/01/2015 23:28

Because the £20 is the day rate for the job minus the cost of her childcare for the day?

wowfudge · 28/01/2015 23:29

That's not clear - £20 is the balance left after childcare is subtracted.

ACSlater · 28/01/2015 23:31

So its about £8 an hour

notonyourninny · 28/01/2015 23:31

How much does she earn usually after childcare? I would of thought she got 50% off anyway?

KatherinaMinola · 28/01/2015 23:31

That could get them closed down.

Snapespotions · 28/01/2015 23:31

Sorry x post.

So effectively, she was paid £61 tax free but spent most of it on childcare.

£41 per day sounds a lot for childcare - doesn't she get a staff discount?

wowfudge · 28/01/2015 23:32

Cash in hand is only dodgy if there is no wage slip and no tax and NI deducted by the employer.

Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:32

no...she gets more than 20 at the end of her proper working days...even with childcare. She must pay less than the ordinary customers...she'd never get by or work for 20 quid and she told me this 20 pounds was less than she'd normally get.

OP posts:
bettyboop1970 · 28/01/2015 23:32

YANB . That is blatant exploitation of your friends circumstances. They should be reported to Ofsted.

DoJo · 28/01/2015 23:33

Because the £20 is the day rate for the job minus the cost of her childcare for the day?

But she wouldn't need childcare if she wasn't there that day, so presumably they pay her more than that on the days when she is employed officially and paying for the place separately. In which case the difference between what she's normally paid and this offer of £20 is more to the point.

Also, from a legal standpoint - is their insurance valid if she's not 'really' there? I mean, how would the nursery stand if she injured herself or a child was injured in her care on the day when she's off the books?

Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:34

Snape cross post. No...she was paid 20 in cash...off the books. Normally she earns more than that! She works 2 scheduled days...and I expect pays a subsidised fee for her DD...she expressed some anger at the offer of 20 quid but felt like she had no alternative.

Wow there is no tax and ni. It's in hand...at the end of the month.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:34

DoJo Exactly. Thank you.

I feel like they're behaving abominably.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:35

They obviously need an extra staff member on that day....but won't employ her properly! To save themselves what really amounts to pennies compared to what they must make!

OP posts:
Snapespotions · 28/01/2015 23:36

Well, yes, I know cash in hand wouldn't be dodgy if the employer does it properly, but I'm assuming that there isn't a wage slip for this amount, as they would have to factor in the cost of childcare on top - otherwise she would be getting way below the minimum wage. Somehow I doubt that they're paying tax and NI in this situation.

Snapespotions · 28/01/2015 23:37

Aargh x post again!!

Original poster
MrsTawdry · 28/01/2015 23:37

I am sure she said she pays somewhat less than an ordinary customer for her DD but can't remember how much.

But....she in no way works her regular 2 days for 20 quid a day. Even with childcare costs.

OP posts:
natureplantar101 · 29/01/2015 02:24

How is £2.50 an hr even legal Min wage is £6.50 for me even working in childcare with a discount her wage wouldn't amount to £2.50 an hr Hmm

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 29/01/2015 02:44

Off the books, she won't benefit from the NI paid for the hours worked, or for any adjustment to tax credits that would otherwise be possible etc. It's just not fair.

mimishimmi · 29/01/2015 03:02

She shouldn't have accepted. If it's all she ends up with anyway after paying childcare costs, it's possible the employer might have thought they are doing her a favour tax-wise.