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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Argos/Sainsburys - Scrooging bastards!

160 replies

Ruffian · 13/12/2017 17:05

Ds is working at Argos who apparently are now owned by Sainsburys. He gets less than minimum wage due to being 18 despite being expected to everything that an older person would be doing.

He has been put on the rota to work Boxing Day 7 hours. For this he will get time-and-a-half pay so it works out as an extra £20 for coming in on one of the most important public holidays of the year.

AIBU to think this is taking unacceptable advantage? Surely it should be double pay at least??

OP posts:
Snowman41 · 13/12/2017 19:22

He gets less than minimum wage due to being 18

If this is true then you need to get some legal advice. They can't pay less than the minimum wage.

I suspect you mean the minimum wage for his age group is less than for a different age group.

alfagirl73 · 13/12/2017 19:30

He will be getting the legal minimum wage for his age group. It goes up in stages based on age.

TheRottweiler · 13/12/2017 19:34

I work in retail, as an assistant manager of a national charity shop. We only close on 4 bank holidays - Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The other bank holidays we open at 10am and close at 4pm (usual hrs are 9-5), but I get paid for a full day. I always opt to do those days, otherwise I have to book them off as holiday.

But I am lucky, as in I absolutely love my job and even go in for a full day, once a week, unpaid.

KitKat1985 · 13/12/2017 19:41

I have never understood personally why it would be illegal to pay people differently for doing the same job if they differed in gender, race, etc; but it's perfectly okay to pay people differently for doing the same job according to age.

When I was 16 I had a crappy job in a supermarket. I got paid £3.20 an hour, which was nearly £2 an hour less than my colleagues who were over 21 (this was obviously a while before the current minimum wage rules). Several of my other colleagues were middle aged ladies who insisted all the younger staff should do all the heavy / difficult jobs like loading up pallets with stock etc, whilst they sat on the tills, which was far easier. So often I was working harder than them, for less pay. It was crap.

Though I will say getting time and a half for Boxing day is fairly generous by modern standards. A lot of retail firms sadly don't pay any enhancements for bank holidays these days.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 13/12/2017 19:42

I think you are being unfair singling Sainsbury/Argos out as they’re no worse than any other large retailer & better than some.

I’d happily go back to the shops being shut on Sundays & Bank Holidays etc.

MissDuke · 13/12/2017 19:58

I agree that this is crap op. Pay should not be based on age! I am not getting much more extra for boxing day though, I am NHS and I think I get time and 2 thirds. Double time would be lovely!

ragged · 13/12/2017 20:03

I like DC getting lower wage b/c it allows them to get a job at all.

Snowman41 · 13/12/2017 20:04

But the pay scale determined by age is set at government level, it's hardly something to rant about argos for Confused

teenybean · 13/12/2017 20:09

Next just pay basic rate on boxing day & we all know how mental their boxing day sale is! He's lucky to be getting time & a half!

TheNaze73 · 13/12/2017 20:15

I sympathise however, can see why retailers, have to do this. It’s supply & demand & being undercut by people that shop online.
I know people must do, as shops wouldn’t open otherwise but, who actually chooses to go shopping on Boxing Day? It’s batshit.

If we all chose not to & voted on our feet, so retailers had no demand on Boxing Day, it could be influenced upwards by the consumer

MrMeSeeks · 13/12/2017 20:22

And? When I worked retail we stopped getting extra on bank holidays and boxing day.
Normal trading days. It sucks.

BackforGood · 13/12/2017 20:22

I too think it is unusual to be paid time and a half these days.
Comparing with 25 years ago is irrelevant though - retailers pushed and pushed for Sundays and Bank Holidays to be just like any other day. I think it is awful myself, but the footfall will demonstrate that Sundays and Bank Holidays are the busiest shopping days as some people seem to think shopping is a 'leisure activity' nowadays.

Nobody needs to go shopping on Boxing Day. Retail staff deserve a break after the horror that is December shopping, but, unless there is new legislation, then it will never be, unless everybody decides to boycott the shops on Boxing day.

OP Are you going to come and clarify if he is being paid less than the NMW, or if he is being paid the correct NMW for his age ?

uncoolnn · 13/12/2017 20:22

I work in retail and we get standard pay for bank holidays, though we get the hours back in lieu time. Time and a half is pretty good going.

uncoolnn · 13/12/2017 20:25

Also is he actually getting less than MW or is he getting the MW for an 18 year old. They're very different things.

sweetsomethings · 13/12/2017 20:53

I think the OP has realised she Is being unreasonable and decided not to return to this thread to answer if he DS is actually getting paid under minimum wage for his age .

Original poster
Ruffian · 13/12/2017 20:55

Been out, sorry. I have no idea if he is getting MW for his age - presumably yes since a large co. like that wouldn't want to be the wrong side of the law but the point still stands - why the hell should there be different MW for his age group when he is doing exactly the same job with same demands as someone older?

OP posts:
Ecureuil · 13/12/2017 20:56

That’s not something to blame Sainsbury’s/Argos for though is it? They don’t set the minimum wages.

Snowman41 · 13/12/2017 20:57

I have no idea if he is getting MW for his age

Then perhaps you should find out before you start a thread on a massive forum doting the company for it Confused

Snowman41 · 13/12/2017 20:57

SLATING not doting ?!?

LightastheBreeze · 13/12/2017 21:11

Maybe you should speak to your MP about the difference in NMW for various age groups rather than blame the shop.

TillyMint81 · 13/12/2017 21:12

I work for Sainsbury's and I don't get time and a half

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan · 13/12/2017 21:12

@Hassled
I'm so glad you posted about triple pay because I was starting to think I dreamed it. Yes late 80s early 90s I was in retail and it was triple pay for bank holidays. There wasn't as much Sunday opening then either. And late night shopping was on a Thursday usually till 8. But now the 24 7 opening hours is just the norm and retailers would probably go under if they paid fairly if they paid the overtime rates.
I remember the changes coming in when my company took on any new member of staff. They had to sign saying they would be happy with normal pay for Sunday's and bh. Also then it was if you were taken on to work only Sunday's you would get the normal rate also.
But do you know what op ? They might be taking the piss out of these kids but good for him for getting a job and I think he'll learn some life skills etc also. I really grew up when I started working.

doyawannabuildasnowmaaaaaan · 13/12/2017 21:13

@WillowWept
Next are notorious for the 4 hour shift. !!

Dibbles1967 · 13/12/2017 21:15

I was working at Satansbury's this time last year & bank holiday pay was an extra £2 ph or thereabouts, def not time & a half. The whole company are shite "Great place to work" (they took those posters down)

goose1964 · 13/12/2017 21:18

When I worked in retail , late last century , we shut at 2 pm Christmas Eve ,I worked in accounts so we had to stay later so the shop supplied us with fizz and sandwiches while we worked. Then we were shut until the day after boxing day. Surely there's no real need for boxing day shopping