to be annoyed by being paid for work via a pocketmoney card?

[hamptonhangingpork]

Just want to see if I am being unreasonable here.

I've picked up a job as a Christmas Temp at Tesco this Winter, gave in my bank details as requested for being paid as per the letter contract.

However, in the post today, I've received a Tuxedo prepay card. Yes kids, the same thing you'd give your teenager. I will be paid through this pre-loaded card to save Tesco on their administrative fees.

Infantilising at best I know, however I could suck it up were it not for the fact that it will cost me money to use for bills, direct debits etc. etc. I know I can use it in the shops, but I feel like it's an extra burden on those of us who are picking up extra hours working in a shop. You know, just to pay bills.

What do you think? Has anyone else had this experience?

And for the record, no, the pocketmoney card was not mentioned at all in any of the recruitment gumpf, contract or anywhere outside a Google search which has yielded that Tesco are using it for their temp staff.

Is anyone else thinking this is the start of a new slippery slope like zero hours has been?

Zero hours when it was originally introduced was a sensible solution for companies like caterers or event organisers that would employ a variable number of people each week for different events - eg one week they might be doing a wedding for 200 people but the next week it would just be for 50 so they wouldn't need as many people to help out. Many of the people employed were students or did it as a bit of extra work, it wasn't a full time job, and you could say yes or no to being availble. So being registered and used on an ad hoc basis made sense and cut down on paperwork of having to register everybody for every event, everybody knew where they stood.

Fast forward to now and so many retailers and others have figured out a way to use and abuse it so that people that should be full time staff (or part time with regular hours) are on zero hour contracts reducing job security, reducing the company's need to pay out on things they should like sick pay and holiday pay and having to ensure they have enough staff on their roster to cover people absent or on holiday or sick etc, transfering the liability for the costs to the state (even if this is just through having to pay more in tax credits etc).

The preloaded cards seemed a good idea when introduced for those that needed them - not a massive group of people but a definite group. Seems that the fast forward to now is just beginning to ramp up speed if they are being given out in this situation, just worries me what they will be used for and how they will be used in 10 years time

Excellent points bunbunny.

Is anyone else thinking this is the start of a new slippery slope like zero hours has been?

Yes, absolutely.

This thread twanged my antennae because I've recently become aware that payment systems are going to be the next big thing, where tech megacorps seize control of areas of our lives which used to be done by diverse companies within a specific sector, eg banking or telephones or taxis.

There was an article on this just a few days ago: Facebook Messenger payments comes to UK
www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41894014

And an excellent BBC/Open University programme: www.open.edu/openlearn/tv-radio-events/tv/billion-dollar-deals?episode=19808#episode-details_19808
"This major new series by Jacques Peretti tells the story of how we sleep-walked into this new world. A world in which we were psychologically reprogrammed by pivotal business decisions to rethink every aspect of our lives.

"In 2015, for the first time in history, cash payments were overtaken by card and contactless transactions. But why are we turning our backs on cash? And what are we replacing it with?

"In this episode, Jacques explores the deals which have shaped the way we understand money.

"From the invention of Paypal in the nineties to the smartphone app economy that followed ten years later, this film tells the story of how tech giants brought about the digital payment revolution and formulated a plan to one day kill cash. But is this new world of digital, hyper-fast spending in our interests? And what is really going on behind the scenes?

Taking a cab is now run by a tech company, Uber, which has reverted to old tricks that employment law had (partially) brought to heel - under the guise that technology makes it all brand new and different.

Similarly, we can recognise the good old illegal truck system lurking beneath the "e-accounts" and shiny websites.

Sorry, doesn't really help you with your situation, hampton. But I do think this isn't a random decision by Tesco, and is the start of a wave.

I could be wrong, of course.

But I was wondering when I'd start seeing results in the real world, if the thesis is correct that the tech companies are hoping to seize ownership of entire money-systems.

And lo. This thread about alt.money, so to speak.

Perking, thanks for the OU/BBC link. That programme is very interesting.

iPlayer link: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b097rqr4/ad/billion-dollar-deals-and-how-they-changed-your-world-series-1-2-money

Oh thanks for finding that iPlayer link, nannynick. Programme available till early morning Thurs 23 Nov, ie this coming Thursday.

Tesco have always had questionable ‘ethics’ and I avoid them like the plague. On holiday the DCs always laugh if there’s only a Tesco in town, I just get creative with days out and they always end with a supermarket shop.

It’s a completely shitty way to treat staff it’s like they’re paying them with gift cards. I’m sure they’ll try and worm their way out of it.

Hi everyone who has been keeping up.

I have popped into another nearby Tesco store and spoke with a team leader there.

Interestingly, they have been using the Tuxedo cards for three years.

BUT the team leader says that seasonal staff are told at induction and are supposed to be told at interview.

So while I wasn't informed at any stage, other stores have been running the scheme for years and it has been down the store managers to remember to mention it.

No clue as to why they don't advertise their payment method or include it within their contracts, if they aren't ashamed of it. I suppose they are hoping to keep it quiet.

Interesting.

So from what you've written, the team leader didn't claim it was for staff without bank accounts?

And they didn't ask staff how they wanted to be paid, just told them this was it?

She said all seasonal staff are paid that way only. No choice and the card came with the role.

I don't do Twitter, but if anyone fancied tweeting this to Jacques Peretti of the BBC/OU programme, he's @JacquesPeretti
twitter.com/jacquesperetti?lang=en

Thanks for the link Perking

Only just seen this thread and went on to Twitter to investigate. They’ve replied to someone’s complaint with this comment. Person behind their twitter obviously doesn’t know what they’re talking about if all seasonal staff are paid this way. Disgusting.

Tesco finally replied to my question. Apparently it’s not true, I call bs.

I had exactly the same reply Lions.

By the sounds of it, even Amazon treat their seasonal workers better than Tesco does. Disgusting!

We should boycott Tesco until they comment properly and agree to treat their staff with respect.

They are sharks basically.

I had my induction with Tesco yesterday, it wasn't mentioned in interview or induction so I'm interested to find out how I will be paid! They took bank account details so I assumed it would go I to my account. You know what they say about assumptions though...

I️ feel a boycott coming on

I’m in!

I've stuck the Tuxedo letter on Twitter in case anyone can spot any reference whatsoever to "exceptional circumstances".

Come on be honest Tesco! At least admit your mistake and deal with it. I’d have more respect for that.

Eeyit - it will be interesting to hear about what happens in your case.
Perhaps this is an issue isolated to just some stores.

Labradoodliedoodoo - agreed. Why can't they just come on here and say that there is a policy for having the money transferred to a bank account at no cost to the employee for cases where a card has been issued and it is not wanted. Payroll did not log the bank details in time, it happens. Now they are logged, why can't the card be cancelled and payment made direct to bank?

bump.